Telemann may have written his twelve fantasias for the amateur market, but he would surely have rejoiced to hear such superlative performances as these. Alina Ibragimova again demonstrates just what can be accomplished on the four strings of a solo violin.

‘You are come here fifty years too late.’

With these words C P E Bach greeted the English traveller, chronicler and music historian Charles Burney upon the latter’s arrival in Hamburg in October 1772. Observing first-hand the sorry state of musical activity in the city during his visit, Burney would soon come to agree. But what had he missed, fifty years before? What was this golden age of musical life in Hamburg, earlier in the century?