MONDONVILLE

Trio Sonatas, Op. 2 Ensemble Diderot Audax Records ADX 13707 67:22 mins

Mondonville was among the most gifted and popular composers of the generation following Rameau and Leclair. Like Leclair he was a brilliant violinist who also made significant contributions to the development of the French sonata, as well as being a successful composer of operas and sacred music. His most innovative sonatas are contained in his Opp. 3 and 5, which feature fully written out harpsichord solos to which, in the earlier one, a violin may be added and, in the later one, a violin with soprano voice. Recording companies have been kind to these sets but, until now, have overlooked Mondonville’s set of six Trio Sonatas, Op. 2. Thus Ensemble Diderot provides us with