Search - Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Les Amis de Philippe, Ludger Remy :: CPE Bach: Harpsichord Concertos

Magnificent performances unearth CPE masterworks

Molly the Cat | the USA | 10/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This splendid recording, one of two available at this writing from Remy/Les Amis de Philippe (the other covers Wq. 30, 37, & 38), covers a wide span of C.P.E. Bach's concerto writing--from the early Wq. 3 (H. 405, originally written in 1737 and revised in 1745) to his last solo keyboard concertos, Wq. 44-45 (H. 477-8, dating from 1778). The recordings of these works by Maestro Remy and company were obviously a labor of love--Remy transcribed the scores from original manuscripts in the Berlin State Library as they are still unavailable in any printed edition--, and the devotion shines through the performances. Wq. 3 is perhaps the most vivid of the scores heard here, with its sudden contrasts of dynamics and its defiantly non-cantabile thematic material. All are worth hearing, as is Remy's other disc of CPE concertos. (I have not yet heard his disc of CPE's symphonies, but that is definitely on my "to-buy" list.) The liner notes in both discs, written by Remy, are excellent as well. What better refutation of the 19th century's dismissal of Emanuel as an insignificant figure (cf. Schumann's approving quotation of Mendelssohn's put-down "it was as if a dwarf had appeared among the giants") could there possibly be than Remy's spirited undertaking, which literally brings this music back to life? Highly recommended."

Splendid, Lively performances of Badly Neglected Masterpiece

Chaconnesque | Singapore, Singapore Singapore | 08/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been collecting the keyboard concertos of CPE Bach. Remy gives very lively interpretations of these works, in comparison to Miklos Spanyi(on BIS), who tends to take a slower, more ponderous pace. But both approaches have their merits, and CPE Bach is a grossly, and shamefully neglected composer who really ranks along with Gluck as the greatest composers in between Bach/Handel and Haydn/Mozart. He is no 'transitional' composer, but one who writes in a distinctive style of his own. His works have real depth. No wonder he is held in such high esteem by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven."

Brilliant

Sanja Kostic | mirro | 06/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Let me tell how I, by the pure coincidence, discovered the whole "think", C.P.E. Bach and Ludger'o Remy. The other day, going to sunday shopping and listening to some public broadcast in my car, I happened to capture only the Andante and closing Allegro of E-Bach's Symphony in "e" in Remy's "vision". Slightly stressed by verve playing,I couldn't help, of course, waiting too long to have one of these CD's. Hmm.., a scent of a Rococo made me buy concertos, instead; so, I chose one, with winds. Of course, there is a strong reason for it: Mr. Remy made his orchestra so vivid and stylish that I really enjoyed all parts of music: solos, an accompany and a tutti.



Compact, explosive orchestral passages, with sudden changes in tonalities, plus emphasized drama in cembalo's solos- isn't it enough? This time, in Remy's arrangement, there are much, much more surprises: E-Bach's lucid extremes in tempos and dynamics in dialogues between a cembalo and a "tutti" are all here and make this music totally adorable. Also, musicians are fully charged with specific humor of a period that they depict, and Remy really is an ingenious virtuoso of his instrument. "Oh", I almost forgot- "Corni" (Horns), are fantastic: they, I think, leap tones instead of making them hand adjusted, which creates a special effect that I like very, very much (it also has intriquing effect to the listener's imagination). "I think, I am able now, to understand, at least partually, why Haendel had so much dispute to keep his horns, badly out of tune, for which I found adorable, in his operas?"



Simply, this CD is magnificant and, in a way, it completes or just opens a new pool for my personal research- enjoyment in music.

(Hope my poor English didn't bother you).

Mirro"