Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Benjamin Alard, Sien Huybrechts, Anne Pekkala, Paul Monteiro, Samantha Montgomery, Ronan Kernoa, Marc Mauillon
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Harmonia Mundi
Catalogue: HMM90247273
Release: 2024
Size: 2.41 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue in D Minor, BWV 903
01. I. Fantasia
02. II. Fugue
English Suite No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 811
03. I. Prelude
04. II. Allemande
05. III. Courante
06. IV. Sarabande – Double
07. V. Gavottes I & II
08. VI. Gigue
Concerto in C Major, BWV 984
09. I. [no tempo indication]
10. II. Adagio e affettuoso
11. III. Allegro assai
Amore traditore, BWV 203
12. I. Aria “Amore traditore”
13. II. Recitative “Voglio provar”
14. III. Aria “Chi in amore ha nemica la sorte”
CD 02
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major, BWV 1050
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Affettuoso
03. III. Allegro
English Suite No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 808
04. I. Prélude
05. II. Allemande
06. III. Courante
07. IV. Sarabande
08. V. Gavotte I (alternativamente) – Gavotte II (ou la Musette)
09. VI. Gigue
English Suite No. 5 in E Minor, BWV 810
10. I. Prélude
11. II. Allemande
12. III. Courante
13. IV. Sarabande
14. V. Passepied I (en Rondeau) – Passepied II
15. VI. Gigue
‘The happy years’: an expression that is particularly apt for J. S. Bach’s period in Cöthen. Freed from the obligations that held him back in Weimar and not yet caught up in the Leipzig treadmill, Prince Leopold’s protégé produced masterpieces of such flamboyance that Benjamin Alard could not resist the pleasure of inviting some of his dear musician friends to join him around the splendid three-manual harpsichord by Hass.