Bach: Harpsichord Concertos (2/2)

This is beautiful. Though the continuous listening of harpsichord works is a bit tiring, these works cannot be missed on any account.
The enjoyment I feel is so profound, that more words are irrelevant.

Brilliant CD1-7.
Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum
Burkhard Glaetzner

Christine Schornsheim, harpsichord/Cembalo
Armin Thalheim, cembalo
Mechtild Stark, cembalo
Violetta Liebsch, cembalo
Paul Leenhouts, recorder/Blockflöte
Karel van Steenhoven, Blockflöte

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Harpsichord Concerto	Fm	BWV 1056
Concerto for harpsichord, 2 flutes, strings & b.c.	F	BWV 1057
Harpsichord Concerto	Gm	BWV 1058
Concerto for 2 harpsichords, strings & b.c.	Cm	BWV 1060
Concerto for 4 harpsichords, strings & b.c.	Am	BWV 1065

Vivaldi: Concerti per mandolini e concerti con molti strumenti

Ah! what a joy!

Most pleasurable listening!!

The only thing I would have to say, beyond joyful exclamations is that I missed the recorder trills, that are so prominent in other versions.

Note: grade:F is for fabulous and favorite... It can't be Failed since I would not feel my attribute to evaluate a work like that.

Europa Galante & Fabio Biondi, direction and violin

Concerto RV 532

for 2 mandolines

Concerto RV 558

for 2 violini in tromba marina, 2 recorders, 2 mandolines, 2 chalumeaux, 2 theorbos & cello

Concerto RV 576

for violin, 2 recorders, 3 oboes & bassoon

Concerto RV 564

for 2 vioins, 2 cellos & strings

Concerto RV 319

for solo violin, 2 oboes, bassoon & strings

Concerto RV 425

for mandoline

Concerto RV 555

for 3 violins, oboe, 2 recorders, 2 viole all'inglese, chalumeau, 2 cellos, 2 harpsichords & 2 violini in tromba marina

Bach: Cembalokonzerte

This CD I/6 from Brilliant is exquisite.

BWV 1052 is, for sure, one of my favorite pieces of all. Beautiful harmonic progression, conflict in the theme, tempo and pace, softness of instruments. It has it all, though the Adagio lacks in my opinion.

BWV 1053 has some nice passages, but did not impress me much.

BWV 1054 is a great piece, too. Definitely a piece to have on a (formerly, duh ;) deserted island.

Finally, BWV 1055 is the most rounded work of the set. It is soberly impressive. The initial theme of the 1st movement is very nice. The finale is also very strong.

1, 2, and 4 need to be in a collection.

Christine Schornsheim, Cembalo
Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum, Burkhard Glaetzner

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Harpsichord concerto	Dm	BWV 1052		Amazing!
Harpsichord concerto	E	BWV 1053
Harpsichord concerto	D	BWV 1054		Beautiful
Harpsichord concerto	A	BWV 1055

Bach: Violinkonzerte

CD I-5 from Brilliant's take on Bach is beautiful too. Special are BWV 1041 and BWV 1042. The Concerto fro 3 violins is nice too, but too needlessly exalting. Concerti Dm and Gm did not tell me anything new (I might even skip them during next hearing :-o )

Emmy Verhey, violin
Camerata Antonio Luco
(all except concerto for 3 violins, as detailed below)

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Violin Concerto	Am	BWV 1041
Violin Concerto	E	BWV 1042
Violin Concerto	Dm	BWV 1052
Violin Concerto	Gm	BWV 1056
Concerto for 3 violins, strings & b.c.	D	BWV 1064	Rainer Kussmaul, Henk Rubingh, Thomas Hengelbrock: violins Amsterdam Bach Soloists

Mozart: Symphonies 1/7

The interpretation of all these pieces is impeccable, with a small orchestra, clear sound and precise tempo. I would call it in my humble ignorance as a neutral interpretation.

Symphony 24 has a beautiful Allegro 3rd movement, that contrasts in creativity with both first movements. Very pleasant to listen.

Symphony 26 is quite intranscendental, not too pleasant nor too tragic.

Unnumbered symphony KV 196 is small, fast, and nice.

Symphony 29 has a famous first movement, which is very enjoyable. Curiously, and I do not know exactly what instrument it is, there is a sound, distinctly heard in the Andante, that is very much like a Glockenspiel.

Symphony 32's Allegro spiritoso sounds so much like Beethoven! The climax is the same, the orchestration. This just reminds me of the piece of information I have heard a couple of times that Beethoven was Mozart's pupil, which as far as I know is false.



Mozart Akademie Amsterdam, Jaap ter Linden

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Symphony 24	B flat	KV 182
Symphony 26	E flat	KV 184
Symphony	D	KV 196
Symphony 29	A	KV 201
Symphony 32	G	KV 318

Bach: Orchestersuiten 3 & 4

The Ouverture of Orchestral Suite No.3 is a nice listening with a powerful Bach leading us into an important work, as I interpret it from the detail and richness of feelings, for him. In this case, when such a well-known piece is reviewed as is BWV 1068 Air and Gavotte I & II, we must place more attention on the particularities of the interpretation. The Air was so sweetly and precisely interpreted, with no abusive decor. Thoughtful sobriety. The Gavotte I & II are cheerfully and forcefully played. Well directed weaving of the different winds and strings sections.

Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen is so strong. It conveys perfectly the hopeful struggle needed to arrive at God's Kingdom. I must say that I personally feel that this is one of Bach's most achieved pieces. The organ setting beautifully the self-absorbed atmosphere, with the trumpet's leading the harmonic melody, and the strings sustaining it all with small bursts of energy. The main theme reappearing just to set what is important and not let the listener astray.

Personally I did not enjoy particularly BWV1069 in Brilliant's CD1-4. I would rescue the emphatic Réjouissance, from the otherwise well-built Orchestral Suite 4.

La Stravaganza Köln, Andrew Manze
Christoph Lehmann, Organ

Name	Key	Catalogue	Musicians	Observations
Ouverture No.3	D	BWV 1068		3 trumpets, timpani, 2 oboes, strings and continuo
Sinfonia from Cantata BWV 146 Wir müssen durch viel Trübsal in das Reich Gottes eingehen
Ouverture No.4	D	BWV1069