Following their critically acclaimed recording of Johann Gottfried Müthel’s keyboard concertos (BIS-2179), Polish ensemble Arte dei Suonatori and Marcin Świątkiewicz, who conducts from his instrument, perform the six Hamburg symphonies by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach interspersed with solo fantasias for keyboard. The music of C.P.E. Bach has always been a source of fascination for the listener with its great variety of atmospheres, captivating melodic ideas, irresistible contrasts, surprising interweaving of voices, eccentric harmonies, and extreme dynamic transitions. The six symphonies featured here are no exception, displaying a truly ‘subversive’ musical style expressed through extreme contrasts. Owing to the richness of their ideas, the virtuosity and the acuity of the compositional work, these works are considered the crowning achievement of C.P.E. Bach’s output. Since these symphonies can be considered as intimate chamber music, they are here performed by a compact ensemble where each musician participates in the interpretation on an equal footing, and everyone is heard. Thanks to the historically oriented performance practices followed here, the Hamburg symphonies and fantasias of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach thus regain the impact they originally had, inspiring awe, and moving hearts.
