BACH: Concertos for Harpsichord & Strings BWV 1052-8; Italian Concerto BWV 971 - St. James Baroque Players, Ivor Bolton, David Ponsford (2 CDs

“crisp, clear-sighted approach, all proceeds at a proper tempo and, where appropriate, with a spring in its heels. The slow movements are sensitively expressive…. this is basically how such works would have been heard in their time, you may feel this is the way it should be…. The strings are ‘authentic’ and respectful of every element ….I thoroughly enjoyed this and the superb recording” “Ivor Bolton is close enough to be heard in realistic balance, (his) clean and incisive fingers bring the music to life in these most enjoyable recordings.” (Gramophone)

CD1 [63:20]

Concerto No.1 in D minor, BWV 1052 [22:49]
[1] Allegro 7:42 [2] Adagio 6:57 [3] Allegro 8:09

Concerto No.4 in A major, BWV 1055 [14:19]
[4] Allegro 4:23 [5] Larghetto 5:44
[6] Allegro ma non tanto 4:11

Concerto No.5 in F minor, BWV 1056 [9:34]
[7] (Allegro) 3:07 [8] Largo 2:43 [9] Presto 3:42

Concerto.No.6 in F major, BWV 1057 [16:38]
[10] (Allegro) 7:10 [11] Andante 4:36 [12] Allegro assai 4:51

CD2 [64:00]

Concerto No.3 in D major, BWV 1054 [16:25]
[1] (Allegro) 7:44 [2] Adagio e piano sempre 5:54
[3] Allegro 2:46

Concerto No.2 in E major, BWV 1053 [20:17]
[4] (Allegro) 8:13 [5] Siciliano 5:17 [6] Allegro 6:46

Concerto No.7 in G minor, BWV 1058 [14:07]
[7] (Allegro) 3:56 [8] Andante 6:11 [9] Allegro assai 3:59

Italian Concerto F major (solo hpschd), BWV 971 [13:00]
played by David Ponsford
[10] Allegro 4:16 [11] Andante 4:09 [12] Presto 4:34