Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, BWV 1051 | Orchestra ...

What makes Johann Sebastian Bach’s 6th Brandenburg Concerto special is its darker, almost mysterious sound. This comes from the special instrumentation, which does entirely without high strings and wind instruments. Instead, violas, viols, cellos, double bass and harpsichord alone fill this sixth of the Brandenburg Concertos. In keeping with the reduced size of the Orchestra Mozart, Concerto No. 6 is performed without a conductor. Claudio Abbado conducted the other five Brandenburg Concertos on this concert evening, but he steps aside for the sixth, leaving the stage of the stylish Teatro Municipale Valli entirely to the seven musicians – and his outstanding chamber orchestra elegantly brings the well-known Baroque concerto to life. The Brandenburg Concertos (BWV 1046–1051) by Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750) are a collection of six instrumental works that Bach dedicated to Christian Ludwig, Margrave of Brandenburg, in 1721. They are regarded as some of the best orchestral compositions of the Baroque era. The concerts were, however, likely composed between 1718 and 1721, for Bach’s Köthener Hofkappelle. Bach’s original title, Six Concerts with Various Instruments, describes exactly what is special about these concerts; the varied use of several instruments – with different strings, wind instruments, or solo harpsichord for the concertini. Orchestra Mozart: Danusha Waskiewicz – Viola Simone Jandl – Viola Rainer Zipperling – Viola da gamba Sabina Colonna Preti – Viola da gamba Enrico Bronzi – Cello Alois Posch – Violone Ottavio Dantone – Harpsichord 00:03 I. Allegro 06:00 II. Adagio ma non tanto 10:47 III. Allegro