STARDUST COLLECTION

Italian Recorder Music

Concerti di Flauti

Baroque Recorder Music

Extra Time

Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet

The Dutch Loeki Stardust Quartet was established in 1978, and from the outset was not your ‘normal’ group of recorder-players. Sure, Baroque repertoire figured prominently in their concerts, but the concerts often contained surprises, substituting the last chord of a canzone with a well-known TV signature tune for example – in this case Loeki the Lion was the TV programme that gave the quartet its name. Wanting to give concerts that were a crossover between St Martin in the Fields and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young was the aim in the early years.

A series of big engagements followed, including the Wigmore Hall with Christopher Hogwood, and then recordings for Decca which are included in this 4CD set. The maverick style of the group came to the fore again, when after a successful sequence of Baroque recordings they released a recording of music by Erroll Garner, Henry Mancini, Lennon and McCartney and Charlie Parker together with works by Vivaldi, Beethoven, J.C. and J.S. Bach.

Never before has the recorder sounded so much fun!

‘If there is a better recorder ensemble than the ALSQ I have yet to hear it, and here it is reproduced with as splendid sound and balance as you are likely to encounter in a long time. If you enjoy hearing in clear detail the spinning of lines into unfamiliar webs of aural beauty, this record was made for you.’ Gramophone, February 1992 review for Italian Recorder Music.

Newton Classics 4cds 8802044