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Avison and a Succession of Disputes

Donald Macleod focuses on the various musical disputes involving Charles Avison.

Conductor and composer Charles Avison seemed to have quite a talent for annoying eighteenth century Tynesiders. In 1752 he had the cheek to publish his thoughts on music in his Essay on Musical Expression. This partly consisted of criticising Handel and even Vivaldi for being "defective in various Harmony". His detractors aired their opinions in the newspapers and there was quite a to-do. A few years later, Avison was forced to offer to resign after a fuss over the transferability of tickets for his series of concerts. Nobody volunteered to take over, so he managed to hang on to his job - just - amid further rumblings in the press ...

1 hour

Music Played

  • Charles Avison

    Concerto No. 5 in D minor, after sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (1744)

    Performers: Café Zimmermann, Pablo Valetti, director

    • Alpha: 031.
  • Charles Avison

    Concerto in D major, Op.3 No.1

    Performers: The Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk, director

    • Naxos:8557905-06.
    • 9.
  • Charles Avison

    Sonata in C for Harpsichord and accompaniments, Op.5 No.2

    Performers: London Baroque

    • Amon Ra: CD-SAR14.
    • 14.
  • Charles Avison

    Sonata in A minor for Harpsichord and accompaniments Op.7 No.5 (1760)

    Performers: The Avison Ensemble

    • Divine Art:DDA21215.
  • Charles Avison

    Concerto in A major, Op.6 No.12

    Performers: The Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk, director

    • Naxos:8557553-54.
  • Charles Avison

    Concerto No. 5 in D minor, after sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti (1744)

    Performers: Café Zimmermann, Pablo Valetti, director

    • Alpha: 031.
  • Charles Avison

    Concerto in D major, Op.3 No.1

    Performers: The Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk, director

    • Naxos:8557905-06.
    • 9.
  • Charles Avison

    Sonata in C for Harpsichord and accompaniments, Op.5 No.2

    Performers: London Baroque

    • Amon Ra: CD-SAR14.
    • 14.
  • Charles Avison

    Sonata in A minor for Harpsichord and accompaniments Op.7 No.5 (1760)

    Performers: The Avison Ensemble

    • Divine Art:DDA21215.
  • Charles Avison

    Concerto in A major, Op.6 No.12

    Performers: The Avison Ensemble, Pavlo Beznosiuk, director

    • Naxos:8557553-54.

Broadcasts

  • Tue 5 Feb 2013 12:00
  • Tue 5 Feb 2013 18:30

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