Forbes Classical CD Of The Week: J. J. Froberger From A Queenly Cembalista

…Cembalista Alina Rotaru has a new disc out, “Parthenia” (Sono Luminus), the title of which the harpsichord-lover will immediately recognize as short for “Parthenia or the Maydenhead of the first musicke that ever was printed for the Virginalls – Composed by three famous Masters: William Byrd, Dr. John Bull & Orlando Gibbons.” Rings a bell, doesn’t it? Doesn’t? All the same, the compendium is famous-ish not just for its quality contents but mostly for being the first English such collection of keyboard works and further for having been a wedding present (replete with embedded musical Easter-eggs) for Elizabeth Stuart and her husband Frederick V, Elector Palatine. The latter, of course, the infamous “Winter King” who was so closely tied to – and part of – the events that triggered the Thirty Years' War. In his long exile as decommissioned King in the Hague, the Netherlands he must have had plenty of time to listen to the music, at least…

-> Classical CD Of The Week: J. J. Froberger From A Queenly Cembalista

Johann Jakob Froberger, Suites & Toccatas, Alina Rotaru (harpsichord), Carpe Diem