Artist: Tatjana Vorobjova, Le Parnasse Musical
Title: Mozart & Johann Christian Bach: Concertante Werke
Year Of Release: 2024
Label: Amati
Genre: Classical
Quality: flac lossless (tracks)
Total Time: 01:09:49
Total Size: 432 mb


Tracklist

01. Harpsichord Concerto in D Major, KV 107,1: I. Allegro
02. Harpsichord Concerto in D Major, KV 107,1: II. Andante
03. Harpsichord Concerto in D Major, KV 107,1: III. Tempo di menuetto - Minore
04. Quintet op. 22 in D Major: I. Allegro
05. Quintet op. 22 in D Major: II. Andanino
06. Quintet op. 22 in D Major: III. Allegro assai
07. Harpsichord Concerto in G Major, 107,2: I. Allegro
08. Harpsichord Concerto in G Major, 107,2: II. Allegretto
09. Sonata for Harpsichord op. 17,2 in C Minor: I. Allegro
10. Sonata for Harpsichord op. 17,2 in C Minor: II. Andante
11. Sonata for Harpsichord op. 17,2 in C Minor: III. Prestissimo
12. Harpsichord Concerto in E Flat Major, KV 107,3: I. Allegro
13. Harpsichord Concerto in E Flat Major, KV 107,3: II. Allegretto

The playing of Cologne-based period instrument group Le Parnasse Musical shines in this highly enjoyable Amati disc, Johann Christian Bach & Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Concertante Werke. It is an interesting and valuable program, as well, comparing the three earliest piano concerti of Wolfgang Mozart with the works of Johann Christian Bach that inspired him. La Parnasse Musical discreetly avoids doing a direct one-to-one comparison between Bach and Mozart on the same work, bringing into the program works near those that Mozart arranged from the "London Bach" that he would also have known. From a purely pedagogical standpoint, it is instructive to learn that the 15-year-old Mozart and the youngest son of Johann Sebastian Bach almost sound like the same composer. Beyond that, however, it is a treat just to hear how exciting this young group can make this music sound, as they employ a lively, swinging rhythm in allegro movements and work to vary their instrumental color, making entrances an event and investigating the narrative flow of this music. It is all too easy to play these pieces in a bland and faceless manner as the scores as written have a utilitarian appearance. La Parnasse Musical realizes that there is more to it than that, and the group manages to bring the spirit of the music out. In the twenty first century, listeners are well past the point where an original instrument performance would seem novel just by virtue of the instruments used -- Le Parnasse Musical manages to find that "something extra" that raises the standard of performances above the pack.
The sound of this SACD is very good, lively, and full -- there is a faint low-end hum in the solo harpsichord sonata of Bach, but the music is played so beautifully by harpsichordist Tatjana Vorobjova that one can easily forgive this minor oversight of engineering. The notes are in German only, and one wishes there was some information included about the instruments in use; the cello played by Martin Burkhardt is a particularly woody and scrumptious-sounding instrument.