Jean-Guihen Quyras - Antonin Kraft - Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Cello Concertos - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

From the lyricism of Bloch's Schelomo to the modernity of Lutoslawski's Cello Concerto, Jean-Guihen Queyras and Gustavo Gimeno explore the cello's lyrical side, revealing itself as prayer, lament, or murmur. In contrast, the Polish composer's Concerto for Orchestra celebrates vitality and collective energy. This program is a journey from inner song to orchestral power.

A pioneer in the rediscovery of the French Baroque repertory, William Christie has been recording Charpentier's finest works for over forty years. This boxed set offers you the opportunity to rediscover the key titles among these benchmark interpretations, which have become hard to find, or totally unavailable, such as the Magnificat (1980), Actéon (1982), Médée (1984), Le Reniement de saint Pierre (1986) and David et Jonathas (1988). A significant aspect of the history of recording and of French music is once again available in a limited edition.

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was Johann Sebastian Bach's second and most successful son. He was a transitional figure between the Baroque and the Classicism, and greatly influenced Mozart and Beethoven, partly thanks to his keyboard sonatas. In the 18th century, the cello concerto was still a fairly new genre, and Boccherini and Haydn had not yet written their contributions at the point when C.P.E. Bach completed his, the three concertos written between 1750 and 1753. The tempestuous drama of the openings and the carefree candour of the finales stand in stark contrast to the tenderness and emotional depth of the slow parts. The renowned Belgian cellist Roel Dieltiens and the legendary Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century reveal themselves to be born raconteurs, turning this music into fascinating, colourful stories. The edition includes a beautiful essay by the popular novelist Anna Enquist, a long-time friend of the Orchestra and of the late Frans Brüggen, in which she takes her experience visiting the recording sessions of this album in Amsterdam as a departure point to explore the musical personality of Carl Philipp Emanuel, especially when seen in relation to his father's œuvre.