Ruge: Concerto, Sinfonia, Arias and Chamber Music

Album review

Filippo Ruge (c. 1725 - after 1767), virtuoso traverso player and prolific composer often showing true excellence of expression (acknowledged as such and as a flute soloist at the “Concert Spirituel”, the most prestigious concert Paris in the 1750s), editor and promoter of Italian music in Paris, organiser of concerts, seems to have been one of the most fashionable Italian musicians in the French capital city at that time. In 1753 renowned London editor Walsh published his collection, Six concertos for a German flute, two violins, a tenor with a bass Op.3, which inspired the Concerto in G major on this album. This is a masterpiece, original in its concept and in the intensity of its narrative episodes. In 1753, also in Paris, Ruge performed at lavish concerts organised by the famous patron Le Riche de La Pouplinière. His symphonies “La Tempête” (1757) and “La Tempête suivie du calme” (1760) – the latter of these also included on this album – were subsequently performed as part of the “Concert Spirituel”, and count among the most distinctive examples of musical descriptivism in France at the time. His compositions, which cover symphonic and chamber as well as vocal genres, are all characterised by a lively repertoire of sound images. This is very much the case with the magnificent aria for soprano, “Son qui per mare ignoto” and the arietta “Vana di tua bellezza” for two soprano voices and two traversos, a fine example of “musique de table”, a genre that was highly prized by the Parisian aristocracy. This album aims at putting together a varied selection of Ruge’s works, demonstrating his remarkable flair and creativity, qualities that indubitably place him among the most fascinating musicians of his time. Flautist and musicologist Enrico Casularo, teaches baroque flute at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory. © SM/Qobuz