Tuesday 26 October 2010 7.30pm

The Bach Dynasty: JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos

Event details

  • 7.30pm. Town Hall, Birmingham, UK

Programme

  • JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 BWV1046

  • JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 BWV1051

  • JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 BWV1047

  • JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 BWV1050

  • JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 BWV1048

  • JS Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 BWV1049

The AAM and Richard Egarr present their distinctive interpretation of JS Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos on the heels of a celebrated new recording and a 14-concert tour of the USA.

The Brandenburg story is well known. Having been penned in the 1710s, the concertos were presented by Bach to the Margrave of Brandenburg in a concerted but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to gain princely patronage; and in the Margrave’s library they languished, unperformed, unnoticed and seemingly forgotten even by Bach’s closest family — until they were rediscovered many years after his death.

Happily for the music lovers of today, these works, replete with vibrant contrast and glittering instrumental virtuosity, were quickly recognized as some of the most masterful music of the baroque period. In the words of Richard Egarr, “these six concertos represent one of the glories of the instrumental repertoire — and arguably some of the best chamber music ever penned”.

The Egarr- AAM Brandenburgs really blow. In a good way. They blow centuries of library dust off these pieces, and they blow fantastic horn and trumpet lines. Egarr & co are in it to win it! Whew! The first disc hardly played 10 seconds when I was grabbing for the remote control to play again the most amazing horn parts I have ever heard — wild, outdoorsy, jazzy, almost bebop. As the six concertos unfolded, there was no sense of letdown, just continuing pleasant surprises... So, yes, a very strong recommendation... STEREOPHILE MAGAZINE, JUNE 2009