Johann Christian Bach: Complete Symphonies Concertantes (6 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Jeremy Ward, Angela East, Sebastian Comberti, Colin Lawson, Gary Brodie, et al.
Orchestra: Hanover Band
Conductor: Anthony Halstead
Composer: Johann Christian Bach
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 6 CD box set
Format: APE (image+cue)
Label: CPO Records
Size: 1.7 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
1. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, oboe & orchestra in E flat major, CW C33ab (T. 284/6): Allegro
2. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, oboe & orchestra in E flat major, CW C33ab (T. 284/6): Andante
3. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, oboe & orchestra in E flat major, CW C33ab (T. 284/6): Tempo di Minuetto
4. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in G major, CW C32 (T. 284/1): Allegro
5. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in G major, CW C32 (T. 284/1): Andante
6. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in G major, CW C32 (T. 284/1): (Tempo di) Minuetto
7. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in E flat major, CW C42 (T. 288/4): Allegro
8. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in E flat major, CW C42 (T. 288/4): Largo ma non tanto
9. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in E flat major, CW C42 (T. 288/4): Tempo di Menuetto

Disc: 2
1. Symphonie Concertante for violin, cello & orchestra in B flat major, CW C46 (T. 287/7): Allegro maestoso
2. Symphonie Concertante for violin, cello & orchestra in B flat major, CW C46 (T. 287/7): Larghetto
3. Symphonie Concertante for violin, cello & orchestra in B flat major, CW C46 (T. 287/7): Allegro
4. Symphonie Concertante for oboe, cello (or bassoon) & orchestra in F major, CW C38 (T. 287/2): Allegro
5. Symphonie Concertante for oboe, cello (or bassoon) & orchestra in F major, CW C38 (T. 287/2): Tempo di Minuetto
6. Symphonie Concertante (Concerto) for 2 violins & orchestra in D major (?doubtful), CW C35: Allegro
7. Symphonie Concertante (Concerto) for 2 violins & orchestra in D major (?doubtful), CW C35: Andante
8. Symphonie Concertante (Concerto) for 2 violins & orchestra in D major (?doubtful), CW C35: (Tempo di) Minuetto

Disc: 3
1. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, flute & orchestra in E major, CW C44 (T. 286/8): Allegro
2. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, flute & orchestra in E major, CW C44 (T. 286/8): Larghetto
3. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, flute & orchestra in E major, CW C44 (T. 286/8): Allegro Molto
4. Symphonie Concertante for flute, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns & orchestra in E flat major, CW C41 (T. 290/9): Allegro Assai
5. Symphonie Concertante for flute, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns & orchestra in E flat major, CW C41 (T. 290/9): Larghetto
6. Symphonie Concertante for flute, 2 clarinets, bassoon, 2 horns & orchestra in E flat major, CW C41 (T. 290/9): (Tempo Di) Minuetto
7. Concerto for flute & string orchestra with 2 horns (optional) in D major, CW C79 (T. 286/7): Larghetto
8. Symphonie Concertante for violin, cello & orchestra in A major, CW C34 (T. 284/4): Andante Di Molto
9. Symphonie Concertante for violin, cello & orchestra in A major, CW C34 (T. 284/4): Randeau: Allegro Assai

Disc: 4
1. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C36b (T. 290/8): Andante
2. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C36b (T. 290/8): Allegro
3. Symphonie Concertante for oboe, cello (or bassoon) & orchestra in E flat major, CW C37 (T. 290/4): Andante
4. Symphonie Concertante for oboe, cello (or bassoon) & orchestra in E flat major, CW C37 (T. 290/4): Allegro
5. Concerto for violin & orchestra in C major, CW C76: Movement 1: Allegro vivace
6. Concerto for violin & orchestra in C major, CW C76: Movement 2: Largo
7. Concerto for violin & orchestra in C major, CW C76: Movement 3: Rondo – Allegro assai
8. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, flute & orchestra in G major, CW CInc5 (doubtful): Allegro spiritoso
9. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, flute & orchestra in G major, CW CInc5 (doubtful): Andante
10. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, flute & orchestra in G major, CW CInc5 (doubtful): Allegro

Disc: 5
1. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C36a (T. 286/1): Andante
2. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C36a (T. 286/1): Larghetto
3. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C36a (T. 286/1): Allegro
4. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, 2 flutes & orchestra in D major, CW C39 (T. 290/2): Allegro assai
5. Symphonie Concertante for 2 violins, cello, 2 flutes & orchestra in D major, CW C39 (T. 290/2): Tempo di Minuetto
6. Symphonie Concertante for 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello & orchestra in E flat major, CW C40 (T. 288/7): Andante
7. Symphonie Concertante for 2 oboes, 2 horns, 2 violins, 2 violas, cello & orchestra in E flat major, CW C40 (T. 288/7): Minuetto

Disc: 6
1. Symphonie Concertante for piano, oboe, violin, cello & orchestra in B flat major, CW C48 (T. 289/7): Allegro
2. Symphonie Concertante for piano, oboe, violin, cello & orchestra in B flat major, CW C48 (T. 289/7): Adagio sostenuto
3. Symphonie Concertante for piano, oboe, violin, cello & orchestra in B flat major, CW C48 (T. 289/7): Rondo: Allegretto
4. Symphonie Concertante for flute, oboe, violin, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C43 (T. 289/4): Allegro
5. Symphonie Concertante for flute, oboe, violin, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C43 (T. 289/4): Larghetto
6. Symphonie Concertante for flute, oboe, violin, cello & orchestra in C major, CW C43 (T. 289/4): Allegretto
7. Concerto for keyboard & string orchestra in G major, Op. 7/6, CW C60ab (T. 294/7) (2 versions): Allegro
8. Concerto for keyboard & string orchestra in G major, Op. 7/6, CW C60ab (T. 294/7) (2 versions): Andante
9. Concerto for keyboard & string orchestra in G major, Op. 7/6, CW C60ab (T. 294/7) (2 versions): Allegretto
10. Symphonie Concertante for oboe, violin, viola, cello & orchestra in G major, CW C45 (T. 286/4): Cadenza in C major

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.