This is a highly original album: it presents Rossini's Six Sonatas for Strings in their original version for two violins, cello and double bass, alongside three "Solo Quartets" by Hoffmeister for double bass, violin, viola and cello, double bass taking on the role of the soloist! Note also that Rossini's Sonatas are the work of a young man, or rather of a child: the composer was proud to point out that he was only twelve years old when he committed it to the page. The originality of tone and conception is jaw-dropping, as are these pieces' melodic richness and architectural freedom. As for Hoffmeister, an intimate friend of Mozart and Beethoven in the Vienna at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th Century, he has left us a considerable work which has been rather neglected in recent times, although when alive he enjoyed a considerable reputation, with his 66 symphonies, 60 concertos, 50 string quartets, and numerous pieces for flute, eight operas, not to mention his sallies into the world of solo double bass. Take, for example, these adorable and very original quartets which are, if you will, little concertos for solo double bass accompanied by a string trio. One to discover! © SM/Qobuz