COMPOSERS: Bach
LABELS: L'OISEAU-LYRE
WORKS: Harpsichord Concertos, BWV 1052-8; Concerto for Flute, Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1044
PERFORMER: Christophe Rousset (harpsichord), Rachel Brown (flute), Simon Standage (violin)Academy of Ancient Music/Christopher Hogwood
CATALOGUE NO: 460 031-2 Reissue (1995, 1997)
Though it’s entitled the Complete Harpsichord Concertos, this set comprises only the concertos for single harpsichord plus the Triple Concerto for flute, violin and harpsichord. The recordings date from 1993 to 1995 and, excepting BWV 1044 and 1057, have all been issued before. Rousset is a superb player, mercurial yet sensitive (listen to his exquisite rendition of the BWV 1056 Largo), but the support he receives here from the Academy of Ancient Music is often lacklustre: the violins sound unresponsive and, at times, the entire ensemble seems too hard-driven. Trevor Pinnock (Archiv) and Bob van Asperen (EMI) provide more expressive alternatives. Graham Lock
Bach: Harpsichord Concertos, BWV 1052-8; Concerto for Flute, Violin and Harpsichord, BWV 1044
Though it’s entitled the Complete Harpsichord Concertos, this set comprises only the concertos for single harpsichord plus the Triple Concerto for flute, violin and harpsichord. The recordings date from 1993 to 1995 and, excepting BWV 1044 and 1057, have all been issued before. Rousset is a superb player, mercurial yet sensitive (listen to his exquisite rendition of the BWV 1056 Largo), but the support he receives here from the Academy of Ancient Music is often lacklustre: the violins sound unresponsive and, at times, the entire ensemble seems too hard-driven.
Our rating
3
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:34 pm