Album

With Vol. 14 of the complete keyboard concertos of C.P.E. Bach, harpsichordist Miklós Spányi has changed orchestras. While the previous 14 volumes had used Hungary's Concerto Armonico, starting with this issue the series has switched to Finland's Opus X led by Petri Tapio Mattson. While the changes in the orchestral sound are striking—a smaller sonority, a lighter tone, and a leaner ensemble—the quality of the series is in no way compromised. As before, Spányi remains a compelling interpreter of the music of the second of J.S. Bach's sons. His technique remains dazzling, a prerequisite in Bach's virtuoso writing, and his insights remain fascinating, a necessity in Bach's idiosyncratic compositions. In the three works recorded here—the extroverted Concertos in A minor and E flat major flanking the more intimate Sonatina in C major—Spányi and Opus X find the essential balance between body and soul crucial to making Bach's music effective to modern audiences. While this might not be the first, much less the only, disc first-time C.P.E. Bach listeners should hear, for those who have heard the previous 13 volumes in this series, Vol. 14 will provide much pleasure. As always, BIS' sound is clear, open, and as close to reality as any recording can be.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Composer Concerto in A-, for harpsichord, strings and continuo, H.430, Wq.26 Work 27:28 OPUS X Ensemble Ensemble
1	1.Allegro assai	10:57			$1.99
2	2.Andante	8:26			$1.49
3	3.Allegro assai	8:05			$1.49
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Composer Sonatina in C, concerto for harpsichord, 2 flutes, 2 horns, strings and continuo, H.460, Wq.101 Work 16:47 OPUS X Ensemble Ensemble
4	1.Larghetto	6:02			$0.99
5	2.Allegro	5:25			$0.99
6	3.Alla polacca	5:20			$0.99
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach Composer Concerto in Eb, for harpsichord, strings and continuo, H.467, Wq.40 Work 25:16 OPUS X Ensemble Ensemble
7	1.Allegro	7:42			$1.49
8	2.Adagio ma non troppo	9:03			$1.49
9	3.Allegro ma non troppo	8:31			$1.49