When Don Quixote Meets Crazy Italian Violinists, We All Win

For some reason, I really wanted to listen to Georg Philipp Telemann’s Don Quixote Suite (Burlesque de Don Quixotte) today. Not quite sure why, to be honest. I don’t see any windmills (or giants) on the horizon.

But when I went to YouTube in search of a recording, I found it was a bit more complicated. See, I didn’t want just any ol’ recording; I wanted one from the Mad Italian Violinist/Genius Fabio Biondi and his equally insane Europa Galante.

At first, all I could find was this version — which was charming, but a bit staid for my tastes. (Especially since Fabio was on my mind.)

Then, BOOM! (Crank it all the way up. It’s fantastic.)

I like Galante’s “Tilting at Windmills (Son attaque des Moulens a Vent )” a lot more than the first version, because it’s a lot faster.

I like their “Sighs for Dulcinea (Ses soupirs amoureux apres la Princesse Dulcinée)” a lot less, because it’s a lot faster.

But that’s Fabio for you.

(Once you’re done, you could try this Goldilocks version from Jeanne Lamon and the Tafelmusik Orchestra. It’s just right.)

Attribution(s): “Dore’s Don Quixotes” are licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons.