Composer: Carl Friedrich Abel
Orchestra: Die Kölner Akademie
Conductor: Michael Alexander Willens
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: CPO
Catalogue: 555137-2
Release: 2017
Size: 429 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Symphonies à 4 parties in D Major, Op. 1 No. 3, WKO 3
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andantino
03. III. Allegretto
Symphonies à 4 parties in G Major, Op. 1 No. 6, WKO 6
04. I. Allegro assai
05. II. Andantino
06. III. Menuet
Symphonies à 4 parties in C Major, Op. 1 No. 2, WKO 2
07. I. Allegro assai
08. II. Andantino
09. III. Allegro
Symphonies à 4 parties in E-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 4, WKO 4
10. I. Allegro assai
11. II. Andantino
12. III. Tempo di menuetto
Symphonies à 4 parties in B-Flat Major, Op. 1 No. 1, WKO 1
13. I. Allegro di molto
14. II. Andante
15. III. Allegretto
Symphonies à 4 parties in F Major, Op. 1 No. 5, WKO 5
16. I. Allegro di molto
17. II. Andantino
18. III. Allegretto
CD 02
Overture in D Major, Op. 4 No. 6, WKO 12
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andante
03. III. Presto
Overture in G Major, Op. 4 No. 5, WKO 11
04. I. Allegro
05. II. Andantino
06. III. Un poco vivace
Overture in C Major, Op. 4 No. 4, WKO 10
07. I. Allegro
08. II. Andante più tosto un poco vivace
09. III. Allegro assai
Overture in E-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 3, WKO 9
10. I. Allegro maestoso
11. II. Andante
12. III. Allegro assai
Overture in B-Flat Major, Op. 4 No. 2, WKO 8
13. I. Allegro
14. II. Andantino
15. III. Menuet
Overture in D Major, Op. 4 No. 1, WKO 7
16. I. Allegro di molto
17. II. Andantino
18. III. Presto
CPO’s most highly successful edition featuring the symphonies of Carl Friedrich Abel (to date, three CDs) continues with further vibrant symphonies by him, this time in an interpretation by the Kölner Akademie under Michael Willens. Around the middle of the eighteenth century the terms ‘symphony’ and ‘overture’ were synonymous. The first orchestral works published by Abel as his opp. 1 and 4 were called symphonies in Continental publications and overtures in London editions. They without exception adhered to the scheme of the short opera overture in three movements with an animated first movement, a slow movement, and a finale of dance character. The symphonies forming Abel’s op. 1 were published in Amsterdam and London around 1760 and must have represented the first fruits of his activity in London. His op. 4 published in various European cities was even more popular. These compact works always begin with a first movement in sonata form and then continue with a highly appealing andante or andantino followed by a dance, which is often in triple time. This music is situated in the fascinating transitional phase between the Baroque world of George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach and the classical style of Johann Christian Bach or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
