Emmanuel Pahud, the Berliner Philharmoniker’s principal flautist, celebrates the 300th anniversary of Frederick the Great’s birth with a concert recorded in the Royal Theatre of Potsdam’s Neues Palais, one of the architectural gems erected by the Prussian king within the World Heritage palace ensemble of Sanssouci. Not only was Frederick an eminent ruler and philosopher, he was also a passionate flautist, a talented composer and patron of music, who appointed to his court such renowned musicians of his day as J. J. Quantz, C. P. E. Bach and Franz Benda. Accompanied by the Kammerakademie Potsdam directed by Trevor Pinnock Emmanuel Pahud performs works by these three composers together with a composition written by Frederick the Great himself.
RCO: Kerstmatinee 2016 – Bach: Christmas Oratorio (Cantatas IV-VI)
The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra’s annual Kerstmatinee (Christmas Day Matinee) has become a beloved holiday tradition. For the second time, this matinee has been entirely dedicated to Bach’s inspirational Christmas Oratorio: The RCO presents the cantatas IV to VI, conducted by Trevor Pinnock, a renowned authority on eighteenth-century music. He leads the RCO in this masterpiece of Baroque music, accompanied by German coloratura soprano Marlis Petersen as well as Ursula Eittinger, Daniel Behle, Michael Nagy, and the “top ensemble” (Volkskrant) of the Nederlands Kamerkoor. The first three sections of the Christmas Oratorio, performed by the RCO under the baton of Jan Willem de Vriend, are also available: J.S. Bach: Christmas Oratorio (Cantatas I-III), Cat. No.: A 865 50025 0000.