Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin / Bernhard Forck BEETHOVEN Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2 C.P.E. BACHSymphonies Wq 175 & 183/4

SYMPHONIES Nos. 1 & 2

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin / Bernhard Forck BEETHOVEN Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral"

                                                 SYMPHONY NO. 6 " PASTORAL"

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin / Bernhard Forck HANDEL Concerti grossi Op. 6 (7-12)

                                                  HANDEL Concerti grossi Op. 6 (7-12)

Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin / Bernhard Forck HANDEL Concerti grossi Op. 6 (1-6)

The Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin kickstarts their Handel trilogy with this recording of the first six concerti grossi op. 6. Originally designed as attractive interludes to English oratorio performances, Handel’s concerti grossi soon gained fame as the most appealing orchestral music of the baroque era. Written in London in 1739, towards the end of his career, Handel paid tribute to the immensely popular concerti grossi of Corelli while simultaneously proving his mastery incorporating all musical styles of his times. Led by their concertmaster Bernhard Forck, the players of the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin demonstrate why many consider them the best baroque ensemble of today. This first installment will be followed by the last six concerti grossi op. 6, as well as a recording of the concerti grossi op. 3. The ensemble’s first PENTATONE album, Cantata (2018) with countertenor Bejun Mehta, won a Diapason d’or.

Isabelle Faust / Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH Violin Concertos

After the double album of the violin and harpsichord sonatas with Kristian Bezuidenhout, a bestseller in 2018, here is the next instalment in the Bach recording adventure that began nine years ago with a set of the sonatas and partitas now regarded as a benchmark. Isabelle Faust and Bernhard Forck and his partners at the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin have explored patiently a multitude of other works by Bach: harpsichord concertos, trio sonatas for organ, instrumental movements from sacred cantatas... All are revealed here as direct or indirect relatives of the three monumental concertos BWV 1041-43.

This fascinating achievement is a timely reminder that the master of The Well-Tempered Clavier was also a virtuoso violinist.