Bach's violin concertos struggled to gain acceptance in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as audiences found them 'old-fashioned' compared to Classical and Romantic symphonic concertos.
Performer Biography
The Freiburger Barockorchester, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2012, performs a diverse repertoire from Baroque to contemporary music in leading concert halls and opera houses worldwide.
Performer Biography
Petra Müllejans, an artistic director of the Freiburger Barockorchester, combines spontaneity and emotion with historical performance knowledge, and also performs Klezmer and jazz with her group Hot and Cool.
Historical Context
Only a relatively small portion of Bach's orchestral works have survived, with many lost due to reasons like the composer having to leave compositions behind or the division of his music library among heirs.
Compositional Technique
Bach's unique approach to the Italian concerto form involves integrating the solo part motivically and thematically into the ensemble, with a contrapuntal elaboration that sometimes subordinates the concertante principle.
Performer Biography
Gottfried von der Goltz, a Baroque violinist and artistic director of the Freiburger Barockorchester, leads the ensemble from the Konzertmeister's desk, a common practice in the 18th century.
Interpretation
The Freiburger Barockorchester's artistic approach emphasizes the creative curiosity of each member to play compositions as lively and expressively as possible, often assigning demanding solo concertos to its own players.
