Suites For Traverso

Released in 2018 on the Glossa label, this recording brings the work of Louis-Antoine Dornel into a contemporary focus. Dornel was a multifaceted French musician of the early eighteenth century, active as an organist, harpsichordist, and composer during the late Baroque period. His suites were intended for the traverso, or baroque flute, a common practice for composers of the era who sought to showcase the nuance and expressive capabilities of wind instruments within the refined musical salons of Paris.

The recording features Wilbert Hazelzet, a renowned specialist in historical flute performance, known for his commitment to authentic period techniques. The design and interpretation aim to emphasize the delicate interplay between the flute and the continuo, drawing out the ornamentation and rhythmic subtleties characteristic of the French school. The release has been noted by classical music critics for its scholarly approach to Dornel's rarely heard repertoire, providing a clear window into the chamber music traditions of the Ancien Régime.