Johann Christian Bach: Complete Symphonies (5 CD, box set, FLAC)

Composer: Johann Christian Bach
Performer: Hanover Band, Anthony Halstead
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 5 CD box set
Format: FLAC (tracks+cue)
Label: CPO Records
Size: 1.4 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 1” in D major, Op. 3/1, CW C1a (T. 262/4)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 2” in C major, Op. 3/2, CW C2a (T. 262/4)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 3” in E flat major, Op. 3/3, CW C3a (T. 262/7)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 4” in B flat major, Op. 3/4, CW C4a (T. 263/2)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 5” in F major, Op. 3/5, CW C5a (T. 263/5)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 6” in G major, Op. 3/6, CW C6a (T. 263/8)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 7” in G major, Op. 6/1, CW C7ab (T. 264/1) (2 versions)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 8” in D major, Op. 6/2, CW C8 (T. 264/4)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 9 ” in E flat major, Op. 6/3, CW C9 (T. 264/7)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 10” in B flat major, Op. 6/4, CW C10 (T. 265/1) (2 versions)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 11” in E flat major, Op. 6/5, CW C11 (T. 264/1)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 12” in G minor, Op. 6/6, CW C12 (T. 265/7)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 13” in G major (“Markordt”), Op. 8/2, CW E13, (T. 267/1)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 14” in D major (“Markordt”), Op. 8/3 , CW E14, (T. 267/4)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 15” in F major, (“Markordt”), Op. 8/4 , CW E15, (T. 267/7)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 16a” in C major, Venier No. 46, CW C16a
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra in F major, CW CInc4 (T. 279/7) (attributed)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 16b” in C major, CW C16b (T. 276/3) (alternate version of 16a)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony (Overture) for orchestra in G major (“Huberty”), Op. 6/1, CW C6b (T. 263/8)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Anthony Halstead, Hanover Band

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 17b” in B flat major (“Hummel”), Op. 9/1, CW C17b (T. 268/3)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 18b” in E flat major, Op. 9/2, CW C18b (T. 268/6)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Overture: Zanaida (II), opera overture (symphony) for orchestra (“Hummel”), Op. 9/3, CW G5ov/b (T. 269/1)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 18a” in E flat major, CW C18a (from manuscript)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 17a” in B flat major (“Sieber No. 2”), CW C17a
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 19a” (with 2 clarinets) in E flat major, CW C19a (from manuscript)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for double orchestra “No. 26” in E flat major, Op. 18/1, CW C26 (T. 269/4)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Overture: Lucio Silla, opera overture (symphony) for orchestra, CW G9ov (T. 270/1)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for double orchestra in D major Op. 18/3 (Overture: Endimione, second version), CW G15ov/b (T. 270/4)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for orchestra “No. 27” in D major, Op. 18/4, CW C27 (T. 270/7)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for double orchestra “No. 28” in E major, Op. 18/5, CW C28 (T. 270/10)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

# Symphony for orchestra in D major (arrangement of overture to Amadis de Gaule), Op. 18/6, CW XC1 (T. 271/3) (spurious)
Composed by Johann Christian Bach
with Hanover Band
Conducted by Anthony Halstead

NOT JUST MUSAK

Many Music lovers think of the J. C. Bach Symphonies as little more than elevator music; sweet, sightly hypnotic, but not especially memorable- good background music and yes, I bought this set for just that purpose.

I was wrong.

Mr. Halstead’s interpretation of this music is quick, deft and well-paced. He has his little band moving when it needs to move and breathing when it needs to breathe. It provides a truly entertaining experience. the little orchestra is fantastic in its own right with crystal clear articulation and near perfect intonation.

As for the music itself, the earliest symphonies are staples and will be familiar to many who have heard a fair amount of 18th century music. Opus 6,8 &9 are more of the same, pleasant but not much more. Opus 18 is (Oh my God!) another story. It is complex and profound, and perhaps the finest set of symphonies written up to that time. Please understand this is music in the galant style, not the full-blown classical style that we find in late Haydn or late Mozart. Still I love it.