Brilliant Classics have amassed a vibrant catalogue of recordings of the instrumental music of Ermanno Wolf-Ferrari in the last half decade.

The Venetian composer is best known for his comic operas, but his neglected instrumental output is being championed on the Brilliant label by Italian pianist Costantino Catena, who features in this well-rounded 8-CD set in solos as well as in the Violin Sonatas, Cello Sonata and Piano Quintet.

Completing the chamber music side are recent recordings of the String Trios and Quartets, the Piano Trios and the Violin-Cello Duo.

Larger, concertante forces are represented here by the stunning disc of the Idillio and Suite (concertinos for oboe and bassoon, respectively) and the Serenade for strings, made by Wolf-Ferrari’s fellow north-eastern Italians of the New ‘Busoni’ Orchestra (Trieste).

To complete this section, Brilliant have thoughtfully licensed in a third Concertino (for cor anglais) and the Violin Concerto from Italian label Tactus.