The Whole Music Experience

Classical   Freiburger Barockorchester Von Der Goltz/Müllejans/Schreiber J.S. Bach Violin Concertos Harmonia Mundi I find it ironic that during the Romantic Era J.S. Bach’s works fell out of favor because the musicians and music audiences of that time thought that Bach’s work lacked virtuosity (as mentioned in the liner notes of Violin Concertos ).  I listen to the dazzling performances of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins (BWV 1043), Violin Concerto (BWV 1042), Violin Concerto (BWV 1041) and Concerto for Three Violins (BWV 1064R) by Freiburger Barockorchester and I hear nothing but heroic virtuosity.  Certainly, any musician from contemporary times would agree at the complexity and difficulty of Bach’s musical architecture, but not only that, but the emotional palette that becomes necessary when performing any of Bach’s works. The recording opens on a fiery yet playful note, Vivace of the Concerto for Two Violins featuring Petra Müllejans (Art...

Kristian Bezuidenhout Freiburger Barockorchester Mozart Piano Concertos, K. 453 & 482 Harmonia Mundi Within the past 48 hours, I learned that Mozart had a pet starling who he taught to sing and that the music he taught the bird to sing was Mozart’s Piano concerto K. 253 .   The bird, like most of us humans could not grasp the complexities of Mozart’s compositions, much less sing it perfectly.   However, the famous Austrian composer’s student Fräulein Babette had no trouble learning the delightful concerto and performed it at a private concert in Vienna.   According to the liner notes, Mozart decided to forge a career as a freelance musician, composing for aristocratic families, performing in private homes, and teaching piano.   While this might sound arduous to a modern pianist/composer, this allowed Mozart freedom to explore his virtuosity and innovative ideas without an archbishop or emperor breathing over his shoulder. We learn some...

Petra Mullejans and Kristian Bezuidenhout Mozart Sonatas for fortepiano and violin Harmonia Mundi Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart needs little introduction to this blog or to anyone seeking the healing effects of music. "The Mozart Effect" both a book by Don Campbell and a concept from the late Doctor Alfred Tomatis, (the famous ear nose and throat specialist), caused Mozart's popularity to rise among young mothers, children with disabilities, and students on a quest to raise their IQ levels. And other medical miracles have also been accredited to the music of Mozart, a child prodigy and genius who died a pauper while still in his early thirties. While I tend to favor Mozart's concertos, Clarinet Concerto in B-flat major , Piano Concerto No. 21 in C major and Horn Concerto No. 4 in E-flat major , along with Mozart's operas, I am delighted to review, Mozart Sonatas for fortepiano and violin performed by German violinist Petra Mullejans and South African pianis...