Masques / Fortin - Baroque Odyssey - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

Les Masques - Noel Baroque [COMPACT DISCS] Canada - Import date 11/15/2005

The orchestral suite, sometimes simply called 'overture' because of the imposing dimensions of it's opening movement, enjoyed great popularity in the early eighteenth century, especially in central Germany. Bach had discovered the genre in his youth and cultivated it until his late period in Leipzig. This recording assembles his four overture-suites, including the famous Suite no.2 BWV 1067, which belongs among the late works. Numerous copying errors in the instrumental parts suggest that this piece was originally written a tone lower - in A minor - and therefore probably for a solo instrument other than the transverse flute in the present recording, this first version, reconstructed from the clues mentioned above, is performed with solo oboe. 'This is a work of austere beauty, in which contrapuntal skill and melancholic expression are combined in a highly original way with the carefully calculated dance rhythms', writes Peter Wollny in the accompanying booklet article.

We have wanted to record Bach's violin concertos with Sophie Gent ever since she joined Ensemble Masques in 2003, says Olivier Fortin, harpsichordist and founder of the ensemble that explores Baroque music with such passion. InchSophie is an exceptional musician with an extremely convincing, honest and unpretentious styleInch. Another pillar of the group is Kathleen Kaji, who is the soloist for Telemann's viola concerto. InchTelemann is a fantastic storyteller,Inch she says, Inchwho provides a plot, characters, costumes and props - and leaves you to put it all togetherInch. Two sinfonie by Albinoni link the concertos and shine a spotlight on each musician in the ensemble.