Customer Reviews

Georg Anton Benda: Harpsichord Concertos [Hybrid SACD]

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If you've been speeding down the Mozart Express Way and not getting much of the musical scenery of the second half of the 18th century, you should take the next exit onto the G.A. Benda Parkway. Georg Anton Benda belongs to that class of composers once referred to as those lesser known, but no less competant musicians who dotted the musical landscape of the middle and late 18th century. Composers such as, Benda, Stamitz, Dittersdorf, and Wagenseil were actually more typical of their time, while Mozart was indeed, the exception. If you go through life with your nose hoisted into the air, sucking in a mess of sky and saying, "Well, Benda isn't Mozart," and ignore men like Benda completely, you'll deny yourself the pleasure of some real musical gems. While Benda may not always develop his thematic material as Mozart does, he has still left some great music to posterity. I originally purchased this CD because of the first selection. This piece was recorded many years before on the old Turnabout LP label by Joerg Faerber and the Wuerttemberg Chamber Orchestra. I was pleasantly surprised by the other concertos on this CD. It is nice to hear these pieces performed so masterfully by a period instruments ensemble. So, give Benda a listen. You may just like what you hear!

Poor German/Czech composer Georg Anton Benda was born (born 1722 and died 1795) too late to fit comfortably into the Baroque era and was born too early to be comfortably into the Classical and/or preclassical period of classical music. Therefore, he and his music were almost completely forgotten and as the extensive notes to the recording put it, he and his music kind of fall into a "no man's zone". No matter what period he and his music may fall and as evidenced by this very fine recording, his music should not be forgotten. To me, these are some wonderful sounding Baroque harpsichord concertos in three movements that are filled with vim and vigor in the fast movements and with wonderful melodies in the slow movements. Sabine Bauer, harpsichordist and the La Stagione Frankfurt lead by Michael Schneider really perform these four concertos on this disc splendidly with beauty of tone throughout.

All I can say is expand your Baroque musical listening experience, as I did, and buy this wonderfully invigorating recording.

By the way, the sound of the recording is splendid!