Richard Egarr, Director of the Academy of Ancient Music describes Viennese composer Castello’s music as “utterly boundless in its virtuosity, imagination and colour, and would take anything we could throw at it in performance.” Well, he’s right. Although Dario Castello isn’t terribly well known these days since almost no biographical information about him has survived, back in the early 17th century he was celebrated across Europe with reprint after reprint of his Sonate Concertate. Subtitled in Stil Moderno (in the modern style), these unusual pieces live up to their description by including rapid-fire wind passages and sections that change mood at the drop of a hat. It’s a bit CPE Bach-esque in that Castello seems to delight in confounding both listeners and players with unexpected twists and turns. Castello realised that this sort of thing meant that the pieces were tricky to play but wouldn’t have any of it, writing that although the sonatas “may appear difficult, their spirit will not be destroyed by playing them more than once…this will render them very easy.” Helpful advice!

There’s a focus on the winds here, with wind instruments appearing in solo form across a solid three-quarters of the disc. The flashy writing for these rare early winds like the cornetto or dulcian is certainly impressive – the dulcian (an early bassoon) played by Benny Aghassi is given some fiendish runs. Nonetheless, the AAM make these complex works sound easy, and Egarr directs with poise. This recording is the first book of the Sonate Concertate, and the good news is that the AAM apparently plans to record the second book as well. If you like Monteverdi-esque music of the early Baroque but with some surprises along the way, you’ll be very pleased with this one.