Divine Art Records

Artist: The Avison Ensemble

Charles Avison: Collected Concerti Grossi & Keyboard Sonatas
The Avison Ensemble with Pavlo Beznosiuk & Caroline Balding (violin), Gary Cooper (harpsichord), Robert Howarth (harpsichord & chest organ)
25% off the price of individual purchases!
5 Double CD sets comprising:
Award winning and highly praised recordings of wonderful baroque music: all but DDA21213 are first-ever recordings
All downloads include booklets in PDF format.
June 1, 2015
John Garth – Accompanied Keyboard Sonatas, Op. 2 & Op. 4

Along with his friend and teacher Charles Avison, Garth was one of the leading lights of the music scene in northern England in the late baroque era (late 18th century). His music was completely neglected until re-introduced by The Avison Ensemble in concerts and with their groundbreaking recording of his Cello Concertos in 2007 (DDA 25059). In his lifetime Garth was best known for his Op. 2 Sonatas, written in the northern English style with accompaniment by two violins and cello; this and the Op. 4 set represent almost the last flowering of the true baroque era. Each sonata is in two-movement form and while thoroughly ‘conventional’ in style, include some masterful composition and endlessly fascinating listening.

May 1, 2014
Avison: Trio Sonatas, op. 1 and Keyboard Sonatas, op. 8

The fourth in our series of Avison’s music, and part of the Complete Edition completed at the end of 2009. These hitherto unknown works are real baroque gems. The op. 1 Trio Sonatas led by the strings, are accompanied by Robert Howarth on chest organ continuo; while Robert moves front of stage and to the harpsichord in the Keyboard Sonatas, op. 8.

These recordings issued at bargain price help further to confirm that 18th century England was a place of fine creative artistry in music. Purchase the low-price five-volume set.

February 1, 2009
Avison: 12 Concerti Grossi after Scarlatti

Thought by many to be Avison’s greatest masterpieces, these arrangements of Scarlatti’s keyboard sonatas were for many decades the only Avison music known. Now thanks to Gordon Dixon and the Avison Ensemble, a complete edition of his quite large output is well underway; this is the fifth in the series, following two sets on Naxos and two on Divine Art. This is sublime baroque music at its best, performed on period instruments. Purchase the full five volume set.

November 1, 2008
Avison: 18 Concerti Grossi, op. 9 & 10

Following the enormous success of the Avison Ensemble’s John Garth CD (DDA 25059) and the Avison/Geminiani Concerti (DDA 21210) we are delighted to present another premiere recording of the finest baroque music. Even before official release, chosen by Classic FM as its disc of the week, this 2 CD set (at the price of 1 CD) is the first complete recording of these concerti. The Avison Ensemble is led by Pavlo Beznosiuk. This set was another step towards the complete Avison Edition, now complete.

Avison’s concerti can be played in various instrumentations: here we have the “chamber orchestra” version. Six of the op. 9 concerti are performed in the string quartet version on Diversions 24108. All five volumes are also available as a low-price set.

June 1, 2008
John Garth: Six Cello Concertos

There are many fine compositions still lying undiscovered, and until recently this was true of the six Cello Concertos by John Garth. This native of Durham in Northern England proves to be a brilliant composer, and these concertos (which are believed to be the earliest examples of the Cello Concerto written in Britain) are surely the equal of those produced by Handel. Played on period instruments by one of Britain’s leading baroque-music ensembles.

The scores, in cello/piano reduction, are also available.

August 1, 2007
Avison: Concerti Grossi after Geminiani

Charles Avison was long neglected, but is now being recognised as one of the most brilliant and accomplished English composers of the 18th century. These 12 Concerti are based on Geminiani’s opus 1 violin sonatas,are played on period instruments and are recorded here for the first time, by the group which has itself made a reputation as one of the finest instrumental ensembles in Europe. The first of our series of major Avison releases. (All Five Volumes available in a single set at large discount!).

April 1, 2007