Frederick the Great, then Prussian heir, was so impressed by Dresden's orchestra in 1728 that he later built his own court orchestra based on that model, recruiting musicians from Dresden.
Historical Context
Dresden became a major musical center under Prince-Electors Frederick Augustus I and II, where the solo concerto genre flourished thanks to the recruitment of top European soloists.
Historical Context
The cello gradually became a solo instrument in German-speaking regions from the second half of the 18th century, after Johann Sebastian Bach inaugurated this new era with his famous Suites for violoncello.
Composer Biography
Ignác František Mára, a cellist at the royal court, was highly regarded for his eloquent playing and was likely the dedicatee of Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's famous cello concertos.
Compositional Technique
Carl Friedrich Abel's Cello Concerto in B-flat Major shows innovative demands on the cello, particularly in its exploitation of the high register, foreshadowing later concertos by Haydn and Kraft.
Composer Biography
Carl Friedrich Abel, a composer featured on this album, studied at the Thomasschule with Johann Sebastian Bach and was a great virtuoso on the viola da gamba.
Recording & Production
The accompaniment for these concertos uses a string quartet with a double bass, and the basso continuo features a harpsichord paired with a German baroque lute or a large German theorbo.
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