COMPOSERS: JC Bach
LABELS: CPO
WORKS: Symphonies
PERFORMER: Hanover Band/Anthony Halstead
CATALOGUE NO: 999 383-2
These are seven delightful symphonies by Johann Christian Bach (the youngest son of Johann Sebastian), who was fêted by most of Europe and admired by Mozart. How can you lose if the performances are so springy, charming and accurate as these are? The recording is also first-rate, because I can remember from my days as a recording producer many years ago that it is exceedingly difficult to create a warm sound with three first and three second violins, and especially problematic if you are using period instruments.
The end result is highly sophisticated. Four of these symphonies receive here their first CD recording, one done from manuscript (the fifth on this disc). The project was supervised by our leading specialist in the field, Ernest Warburton. A delightful disc and heartily recommended. (Incidentally, the CD cover is very pretty too.) HC Robbins Landon