![Erich Höbarth, Aapo Häkkinen – Bach, J.S.: Sonatas for violin & harpsichord (2015) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/08/21/WFRjYgp.md.jpg)
Erich Höbarth, Aapo Häkkinen – Bach, J.S.: Sonatas for violin & harpsichord (2015) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]
Almost every music lover has probably heard Erich Höbarth play at least once: active as Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s concertmaster, as first violinist of the Quatuor Mosaïques, and in many other positions of musical life, heard in numerous recordings and television broadcasts, he is an almost omnipresent figure. Höbarth unites historical performance practice with the self-assured poise of an individual artistic personality. The Viennese violinist has found here a congenial partner in the young Aapo Häkkinen from Helsinki, who, exactly like Höbarth, can already boast extensive experience as an ensemble director.
Violin and Harpsichord – these are namely the instruments that Bach himself played as ensemble director and as soloist, and that he brings together in the present sonatas as if at a chamber music summit meeting. Already in the eighteenth century, the six-sonata cycle BWV 1014–1019 numbered among his best works. Höbarth and Häkkinen captivate with wonderful ensemble playing. Aapo Häkkinen plays a – today rarely found – 16’ harpsichord, that is to say, with an additional, lower sounding register. It has been reported that Bach likewise had a 16’ instrument at his disposal in Köthen, where he composed the sonatas.
![Bob Van Asperen – François Dieupart: Suittes de Clavessin (2023) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2023/04/27/fe3xdxccspb8a_600.md.jpg)
Bob Van Asperen – François Dieupart: Suittes de Clavessin (2023) [FLAC 24 bit, 96 kHz]
Bach model Dieupart completely redefined. Bob van Asperen dispels false facts in Dieupart’s biography and does away with inadequate editions of music.
After intensive research, he presents for the first time sensational evidence about the life of Dieupart, who did not die impoverished in London as previously assumed, but rather enjoyed a peaceful retirement in France. Even more important are the insights about the genesis of the original scores and the conclusions Bob van Asperen draws from them with regard to a proper performance of the works.
J.S. Bach was obviously an admirer, quoted an exceptional amount from the suites in a number of his own works, and wrote out copies of them himself unequivocal proof of the quality of this music, which can possibly now be heard for the first time on a recording as it was originally conceived.
Also to be heard, in addition to the well-known cycle of six suites, are two newly discovered works. In the very extensive booklet text, the world-famous harpsichordist himself elucidates the biography and work of the important Frenchman.
![Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra – Bach, J.S.: Harpsichord Concertos, Vol. 1 (2012) [FLAC 24bit, 96 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/08/21/4026798100575_600.md.jpg)
Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra – Bach, J.S.: Harpsichord Concertos, Vol. 1 (2012) [FLAC 24bit, 96 kHz]
In 2012, too, there are prominent treasures to be found: Aapo Häkkinen plays Bach’s Concertos for solo harpsichord and strings – the crown jewels of the harpsichord and piano literature – on a 16’ harpsichord, that is to say, an instrument with an additional, very low sounding register. Although Bach probably used a similar harpsichord himself, this is the first recording of this cycle of works on an instrument of this kind built in a historical manner!
Vol. 2 will contain: BWV 1054, 1055, and 1057. The Helsinki Baroque Orchestra plays one on a part, and is obliged to the best Baroque traditions. As an “encore,” so to speak, the CD also contains Bach’s famous Italian Concerto for harpsichord solo – on the 16’ instrument, it is an amazing sonic experience!
![Bob Van Asperen – J.S. Bach: Die Kunst der Fuga – The Art of Fugue (2018) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/08/18/cwtj20onprxhc_600.md.jpg)
Bob Van Asperen – J.S. Bach: Die Kunst der Fuga – The Art of Fugue (2018) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]
No need to dwell on the The Art of Fugue’s one thousand and one secrets, whether real or presumed: let’s just play it, pure and simple. For too long, many considered it had been created more so for the eyes and mind than for the ears, and what a mistake that was! Bob van Asperen proves it once again with his incredibly deep 1741 Christian Zell harpsichord. Van Asperen only plays fourteen of the definite, finalised manuscript’s “contrapuntus”, adding a canon found annotated on the same manuscript, which was itself finalised. The other contrapuntus and canons in The Art of Fugue are drafts at various degrees of revision, and it is known that a monumental triple fugue remained unfinished. As a complement, the harpsichordist had the surprising yet outstanding idea to combine Berhard Klapprott and a second harpsichord to play two mirror fugues from other manuscripts, which require a large number of playing fingers. The sound disparities between both harpsichords help the listener follow Bach’s titanic contrapuntal inventions. It’s clear this music wasn’t intended for the eyes alone…
![Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra – Bach, J.S.: Harpsichord Concertos, Vol. 2 (2013) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/08/21/4026798100674_600.md.jpg)
Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra – Bach, J.S.: Harpsichord Concertos, Vol. 2 (2013) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]
Aapo Häkkinen concludes the cycle of concertos for solo harpsichord and strings. Like in volume 1, he plays a 16’ harpsichord.
That is to say, an instrument with an additional, very low sounding register. Although Bach probably used a similar harpsichord himself, this is the first recording of this cycle of works on an instrument of this kind built in a historical manner! Häkkinen, harpsichordist and director of the ensemble, convinces not only by means of this sonority, but also though his musical powers of imagination and the precision of his articulation.
The Helsinki Baroque Orchestra plays one on a part, and is obliged to the best Baroque traditions. This time the CD contains as a “solo encore,” so to speak, the Fantasia BWV 906 as well as a Concerto for harpsichord solo by Bach’s son Wilhelm Friedemann.
![Andreas Böhlen – Giuseppe Sammartini: Sonatas for Recorder and Basso continuo, Vol.2 (2022) [FLAC 24bit, 96 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/01/15/icyx33ryinmwb_600.md.jpg)
Andreas Böhlen – Giuseppe Sammartini: Sonatas for Recorder and Basso continuo, Vol.2 (2022) [FLAC 24bit, 96 kHz]
Onward and upward! Andreas Böhlen’s interpretation of Giuseppe Sammartini’s rarely played recorder sonatas (Vol.1, released in 2020) was not only veritably celebrated in the early music scene, but he has now even been appointed professor at the world famous Schola Cantorum in Basel (Switzerland). Listeners can therefore expect the highest standards from this second and final volume of Sammartini’s sonatas.
![Andreas Böhlen – Giuseppe Sammartini: Sonatas for Recorder and Basso continuo, Vol.1 (2020) [FLAC 24bit, 96 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/01/15/ktnulwav6mipb_600.md.jpg)
Andreas Böhlen – Giuseppe Sammartini: Sonatas for Recorder and Basso continuo, Vol.1 (2020) [FLAC 24bit, 96 kHz]
Das Orchester von Händels Opernunternehmen am King’s Theatre bestand aus herausragenden Musikern, darunter auch der gebürtige Mailänder Giuseppe Sammartini (1695-1750), für den London ebenfalls zur neuen Heimat wurde. Hier reüssierte er nicht nur als Oboenvirtuose, sondern auch als Komponist. Der sonst eher kritische Charles Burney lobte seine Musik voller Kunstfertigkeit, Originalität und Feuer . Angesichts ihrer Originalität und Qualität, die sich u.a. durch eine tiefe Emotionalität und sogar bizarre Überraschungen auszeichnet, ist es schon verwunderlich, dass einige der Sonaten von Andreas Böhlen im Rahmen dieser Gesamteinspielung auf AEOLUS zum ersten Mal eingespielt wurden.
![Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra – Johan Joachim Agrell: Orchestral Works (2010) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]](https://imghd.xyz/images/2022/06/02/4026798100476_600.md.jpg)
Aapo Häkkinen, Helsinki Baroque Orchestra – Johan Joachim Agrell: Orchestral Works (2010) [FLAC 24bit, 88,2 kHz]
Johan Agrell was in many ways a traveler between the worlds: in Uppsala, the Swede’s great talent was recognized by the Hessian envoy, which resulted in Agrell being summoned to a court near Kassel in Germany. He later went as municipal chapel-master to Nuremberg.
Musically, Agrell was a brilliant Baroque composer in whose works many of the new early Classical trends were anticipated. This recording thus continues the series of AEOLUS releases that feature the orchestral music of this exciting period, a series that has already very successfully presented works by Fasch, Hertel, and Molter.
The Helsinki Baroque Orchestra is a shining star of Finland’s musical life. The young musicians around the harpsichordist Aapo Häkkinen appear year after year throughout Europe. Further releases on AEOLUS are in preparation.