Two Concertos For Organ

When he died, Nicolaus Bruhns was just 31 years old, and only twelve of his vocal works and five organ compositions have survived. On the strength of these, he is nevertheless considered one of the most prominent North German composers of the generation between Buxtehude and Bach. Buxtehude was in fact Bruhns teacher, and thought so highly of him that recommended him for a position in Copenhagen. There he worked as a violin virtuoso and composer until 1689, when he returned to Northern Germany to become organist in the main church of Husum. It was here that most if not all of the extant works were performed.

Perhaps more than any other composer, Bach’s music has the power to affect our lives. The masterpieces featured here include secular and sacred works for ensembles, soloists and choirs and express emotions from joy to sadness and peace. Artists include John Eliot Gardiner, Hélène Grimaud, David Oistrakh and many more.

Vivaldi’s last two printed collections of concertos, Opp. 11 and 12 were issued in 1729. Each set contained six works rather than the customary 12 and each, to some extent, is representative of Vivaldi’s mature concerto style. If Op. 11 contains, in the concerto Il favorito (RV277), one of the finest works of its kind that Vivaldi ever wrote, Op. 12 can boast the composer’s only published concerto for orchestral strings without solo violin; for though he wrote some 40 such pieces all but this one remained unpublished until the present century.

Koopman may not be my Bach hero, but as an organist and harpsichordist he has few equals. If you happen to know his fantastic recording of Handel's organ concerti (as an organist and conductor of his Amsterdam orchestra), you know what to expect from this Haydn release. Koopman's playing is as spontaneous and exciting as it was with Handel (the Handel disc, as far as know, is out of print - what a pity!) - he is obviously enjoying himself!

Maurice André rightly earned the reputation of being one of the finest trumpet virtuosos from the 20th and 21st centuries. He made numerous concert appearances and recordings and inspired composers like Blacher, Jolivet, and Tomasi to write major works for his instrument.

Guiomar Novaes was one of the greatest Brazilian pianists but I didn't know that when I bought this two-disc set. What originally attracted me to this collection was the conductor, not the soloist, leading the three Piano Concertos, Otto Klemperer. Indeed, the Beethoven 4th, Chopin 2nd and Schumann are performed well with the Vienna Symphony, in good sound from the 1950s, but it is the various solo pieces that are the true highlight of this set, and showcase the real magic of Novaes' playing.