C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concertos

C.P.E. Bach would undoubtedly rejoice, were he alive, upon hearing this album of his cello concertos by Truls Mørk and Les Violons du Roy under the direction of Bernard Labadie. From the opening notes, one cannot help but feel the orchestra is fantastic. The A major Cello Concerto begins with vigor and liveliness, with the ensemble playing perfectly together in tempo with great spirit. Mørk plays just as well, with a clean, accurate, and somewhat light touch.

The Largo is also played beautifully and sensitively, though the cellist opts not to use much vibrato, and occasionally sounds like he is running out of contact with the string at the end of the bow. Yet Mørk never slips up, even in fast movements like the third one, where the orchestra plays with great contrasts between forte and piano underneath the cello line. The B flat major concerto is no less enjoyable: the Allegretto is graceful, the Adagio is beautifully somber, and the Allegro assai distinguishes itself very clearly from the Allegretto. The greatest surprise on the album is perhaps the last concerto, which is overall more energetic and fiery.

One senses this from the opening movement, which is more aggressive in sound. Mørk's rhythms are perfect as he plays more into the string than on the previous concertos, which makes it very exciting to listen to. The dialogue between the orchestra and cello is wonderfully engaging. Once again, Mørk never misses a beat in long runs, playing with as much agility as a violinist. This concluding piece on the album is rather like a Corelli concerto grosso, and it makes for a good choice of repertoire for this CD. All the elements seem to work together here, with a very enjoyable result. --allmusic.com

Read More

Cpe Bach: Sonates en Trio

At the time when CPE Bach was engaged as court harpsichordist at Sans-Souci, Berlin discovered the pleasure of listening to a new type of music which could 'speak' without words, music which brought to mind the deepest of human emotions. The sonata 'Sanguineus & Melancolicus' illustrates a process which goes from opposition to reconciliation...from dueling instruments to counterpoint, from an almost recitative-like improvised style to sonata from, and from opposing to compelentary themes...in short, it proceeds from 'rhetorical music' to 'pure music'.

Read More

Fiery And Sublime: The Sources Of Quantz's Inspiration

As well as works by Leclair, C P E Bach, Graun and Blavet, this CD includes a rediscovered work by Quantz.

"For anyone interested in the chamber repertoire for flute in the eighteenth century this should be informative and enjoyable listening. Since the playing is exemplary and the recording quality outstanding it can, however, be warmly commended to more than just those with a specialist interest." --MusicWeb International, August 2011

As well as works by Leclair, C P E Bach, Graun and Blavet, this CD includes a rediscovered work by Quantz. It is a flute concerto in D and La Ricordanza came across the manuscript in the Berlin State Library. This is the first recording on CD. For more that fifteen years, La Ricordanza has enthused concertgoers and CD fans in Europe and around the world with their energetic and multifaceted playing.

CD Review

Read More

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonatas

“Esfahani’s booklet-note provides the listener with a convivial commentary in which he draws attention to CPE Bach’s ‘Janus-like musical personality’...The elusive fusion of thematic intricacy, ‘Baroque’ rhetoric and ‘proto-Classical’ Sturm und Drang offered by the instrument are caught perfectly by Esfahani’s supple touch and disarming sense of rhetorical pacing.” --Gramophone Magazine, February 2014

Gramophone Awards 2014 Winner - Baroque Instrumental

“Esfahani's at his most expressive in the slow movements...This, his first solo disc, provides a particularly welcome introduction onto the world stage for an artist matching, in expression CPE Bach himself.” --BBC Music Magazine, February 2014 *****

“Esfahani makes coherence out of apparent incoherence...As for his playing, in the best sense it is anything but unpredictable: sure-minded and vividly realized, it holds the attention with ease and is a pleasure to hear. This is an excellent recording and it can be thoroughly recommended.” International Record Review, February 2014

Read More

Bach: Keyboard Concertos

“This is extremely intelligent, thoughtful, committed playing that displays both a grasp of recent trends in performance practice and a deep love of the music. Of all the pianists seeking to make a case for music of this vintage on the mdoern instrument, I can't think of one who succeeds more eloquently than Injushina.” --International Record Review, May 2013
   
“This music is an apt vehicle for Anastasia Injushina's limpid pianistic facility and taste, but the touches of individuality in the writing and in the work's significance in the development of the keyboard concerto are outweighed by reams of stock, note-spinning gestures.” --Gramophone Magazine, June 2013

“the Hamburg Camerata string are in sparkling form. Anastasia Injushina's articulation is admirably versatile, though ornaments tend to accent, rather than simply decorate, the slow movement's beautifully languid line...Injushina captures the elegance of fluid scales and pert ornaments.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2013 ****

Read More

C.p.e. Bach: Sonatas For Viola Da Gamba & Basso Continuo

C. P. E. Bach has had to wait a very long time to come into his own again, after first going out of fashion by the end of the 18th century and then being overshadowed by the staggering genius of his father; but with the revival of interest over the last generation or so in the transitional era between the late Baroque and the Classical eras his music has undergone a major revival and he is once again being recognized as a truly major composer. 

Read More