Freiburg Baroque Orchestra: 6 Brandenburg Concertos

Program:
Johann Sebastian Bach
Brandenburg Concertos No. 1 - 6 BWV 1046 - 1051

Daniela Lieb Flute
Josep Domènech oboe
Moritz Görg trumpet
Isabel Lehmann & Marie Deller recorder
Éva Borhi, Hannah Visser, Gottfried von der Goltz & Péter Barczi Violin
Corina Golomoz & Werner Saller Viola
Beatriz López Paz & Arthur Cambreling Viola da Gamba
Sebastian Wienand Harpsichord
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra

In 1721, Johann Sebastian Bach sent Margrave Christian Ludwig von Brandenburg six concertos entitled "Six Concerts Avec plusieurs Instruments". The margrave probably never had them performed and never paid Bach for them. The manuscripts lay dormant in the archives for decades and only became known as the "Brandenburg Concertos" in the 19th century.

The secret of this collection lies in its astonishing variety. No two concertos are the same, each unfolding its own world of sound. Horns and oboes characterize the first concerto, while a trumpet that goes to the limits of what can be played defines the second. The third is dedicated to the strings, while the fourth focuses on two recorders. In the fifth concerto, the harpsichord emerges from the continuo with a long cadenza and takes on a solo role, proving Bach to be one of the fathers of the piano concerto. The sixth concerto does without violins and takes on a dark, warm timbre thanks to the violas and viols.

Six concertos, six worlds of sound and an evening that reminds us that this music first had to be rediscovered before it began its triumphal march.