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Carl Philipp Emanuel BACH
(1714-1788)
Concerto in E flat, for oboe, strings and continuo, Wq 165 [23:09]
Concerto in B, for oboe, strings and continuo, Wq 164 [23:39]
Johann Christian BACH (1735-1782)
*Concerto in F, for oboe, strings and continuo [22:31]
Burkhard Glaetzner (oboe)
Neues Bachisches Collegium Musicum Leipzig/Max Pommer
*Kammerorchester Berlin/Max Pommer
rec. Paul-Gerhardt-Kirche, Leipzig, 1985; *Christuskirche, Berlin,
1983. DDD?
PHOENIX EDITION 449 [69:19] 
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As the recording date suggests, this CD is a re-issue, originally
published by Capriccio in 1987 and re-released in 2004 as part
of their 12 CD 'CPE Bach Edition' of symphonies, concertos,
keyboard music, flute sonatas and vocal music (C49367). Phoenix
have in fact already re-issued most of the discs in that set
this summer. They have focused on design: the booklets have
attractive 'old school' covers, clean layouts and even a colour
photo printed on the discs themselves. Admittedly the perfunctory
liner-notes are nothing to write home about - the German originals
are all right, if short, but the English translations contain
a fair few typos - but generally speaking, the CDs create a
good first impression.
Unfortunately the sloppiness of Capriccio's original engineering
is still there. The trouble lies chiefly in the numerous audible
editing joins dotted about the disc, often subtle but just as
often not, centred particularly around solo cadenzas. There
is an appalling one at the end of the slow movement of the JC
Bach Concerto. How the producers imagined no one would notice
is anyone's guess - although if Gramophone did in their October
1988 review, they chose not to mention it. Such a pity, because
Johann Christian's writing for oboe - if it is his, which
it may well not be! - is every bit as good as his brother Emanuel's.
This work's presence on the disc, by the way, is not explained
- or even mentioned - in the notes.
Sound quality is otherwise fairly good, although distant traffic
rumble can be heard in quieter passages, as can the odd click,
especially in the third movement of Emanuel's E flat Concerto,
not to mention an occasional burst of conductor humming.
No fault can be attached to the musicians. Burkhard Glaetzner
is a fine oboist with a beautifully warm tone, and the New Bach
Collegium Musicum Leipzig under Max Pommer give good support.
No - despite the excellent music, accomplished playing and appealing
design, too many compromises have been made in the recording
process for this disc to be considered by anyone who is short
of money to burn. CPE Bach's Concerto in B does just about scrape
home untainted by the shenanigans, but far more sensible to
go elsewhere, such as Heinz Holliger's modern instrument re-mastering
on Pentatone (PTC 5186128, 2008).
Byzantion
Collected reviews and contact at reviews.gramma.co.uk
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