CPE Bach: Symphonies & Concertos - Arion, Cooper, Guimond

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach
Symphonies & Concertos
Arion, Gary Cooper, Claire Guimond
Early-Music.com EMCCD-7771

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was acknowledged by several of his successors as a leader into the new approaches of the Classical era. The Symphony No.3 adagio has a dark, brooding intensity that demonstrates how CPE starts building bridges to the Classical. The framing created by the first and third movements provides compelling contrast. Even so, CPE still celebrates high points of the Baroque. In the first movement of the F Major concerto, the harpsichord positively sparkles and, in the third movement, is resplendent. The recording achieves a wonderfully open sound that makes listening to the Baroque so enjoyable, especially on period instruments. I particularly liked how the low strings are given space enabling their voices to provide foundation upon which the others build.

Brian E. Blair, Amazon Customer Review