Search - Johann Christian Bach, Hanspeter Gmur, Camerata Budapest :: Bach: Sinfonias Vol. 3

Plangent but falls short of the mark

fronker | 01/28/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"We live in an age where we need more of J.C. Bach; less profundity, and more beauty. The first time I heard the Andante con sordini from Op.9, No.2, I fell to my knees and wept. 'Here', I thought, 'is a composer who speaks with true Festschriffer!'This collection promises a sampling of the beauty of J.C.: from the bold masticulation of the Allegro con spirito of Op.9, No.1, to the graceful torsades phrasing of No.3's Andante, to everything in between.Unfortunately, Hanspeter Gmur, who I generally find to be very perceptive, has made a fundamental gaffe in interpreting the galant style: he has striven for (and achieved, I might add) a beauty of sound, but at the expense of the characteristic tempo gradiations that make the London Bach's style so piquant, so shimmeringly vogiaunt in a tasty way.Oh, you cannot fault the sound. As always, the Camerata produce achingly beautiful sonorities. For example, I have never heard the Andante di molto of the A major concertante played with such deepfelt compassion.But, alas! the ferocious give and take of the rondos, the teasing jocularity of the incipient recapitulation manque in the first movement of the Bb major, the astonishing jolt of the deceptive cadences in all of the Allegro mavements....one listens in vain for them here.As always, the Festetich Castle provides a grand acoustic for the recording (although I would have preferred a touch less reverb).All in all, considering the more than reasonable price, this is a good candidate for the budget seeker, but not for the definitive collector or for a gift for someone special."

Surprisingly good music and well played; Not worth carping a

S. M. Struhl | Wilmette, IL United States | 11/30/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"J. C. Bach apparently wrote music that he liked at least as well as others, and that others in his time liked well. In one anecdote, which may not be true but sounds true, he wrote on the autograph of one score something like: "Written by J. C. Bach and so good even I can hardly believe I wrote it." He likely did not search for profundity, but wrote some remarkably good music, that generally is not too "demanding." These are well-made pieces, with moments that are moving and touching. Conductor Gmur is not a household name, but he seems solidly in the second rank of conductors. He does a more than competent job, securing excellent playing and choosing convincing tempos. If you like the early classical or galante style of music, you will like this disc."