Music at the Habsburg Court CD review – Umstatt, Ragazzi and Timmer, anyone?

The constant quest for rare pieces of repertory continues, and this collection explores some very little-known names. Joseph Umstatt was a son of the court painter to Empress Anna Amalia, while Angelo Ragazzi worked in Naples and Barcelona before becoming part of the Habsburg court. Their music sounds distinctly galant and up-to-date, with a touch of the early classical style – they make Vivaldi seem quite old-fashioned. The violinist Andrés Gabetta relishes the soloistic violin style. The real unknown here is Joseph Timmer, one of a prolific family, whose Concerto à 5 has not been recorded before. “His compositions are rather unattractive,” laments the Grove Dictionary, but I found it cheery and well-developed.