Das Alte Werk
Das Alte Werk was inaugurated in 1958 with the release of 7” discs of Gregorian chant and music by Machaut, and quickly gained a reputation for historically informed, high-quality recordings. There soon followed LPs of harpsichord sonatas by Scarlatti, Concerti grossi by Handel and Partitas for unaccompanied violin by Bach.
The signing up of Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Gustav Leonhardt, Frans Brüggen and Jaap Schröder ushered in a new era: the rediscovery of the authentic sound of period instruments, scholarly research into original sources and the obvious delight the label’s young artists had in their music-making combined to offer the listener new and fascinating musical experiences.
-
Awards:
-
Building a Library, May 2007, First Choice
Purchase product
2 CDs
$11.50 -
-
Special offer. Bach, J S: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-6 BWV1046-1051
Concentus musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
-
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
Special offer. Bach, J S: St John Passion, BWV245
Kurt Equiluz, Max van Egmond, Jacques Villisech, Bert van t'Hoff & Siegfried Schneeweis
Wiener Sängerknaben, Chorus Viennensis & Concentus Musicus Wien, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
-
As a performance the present version commands respect for its clarity of thought and its control. —
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
Special offer. Bach, J S: Christmas Oratorio, BWV248
Kurt Equiluz, Paul Esswood & Siegmund Nimsgern
Concentus musicus Wien & Wiener Sangerknaben, Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Harnoncourt's more recent recording of the same work is musically better, but this version has endearing qualities. Moments of undisciplined ensemble and occasional plodding tempos don’t disguise... —
-
Special offer. Bach - Cantatas
Agnes Giebel, Sheila Armstrong, Rotraus Hansmann (sopranos), Julia Falk, Helen Watts (altos), Bert van t’Hoff, Kurt Equiluz (tenors) & Jacques Villisech, Max van Egmond (basses)
Monteverdi Choir Hamburg, Jürgen Jürgens
Patches of engaging music-making here, though giving more insight into 1960s Hamburg than 1720s Leipzig. Choruses are often woolly, soloists vary from off-the-voice big voices to insecure,... —
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
A very musical and appealing performance… altogether a disc with much polished and sensitive playing. —
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
Released as part of Das Alte Werk's 50th anniversary 'pat on the back' to itself, Herbert Tachezi's Art of Fugue harnesses a pungent Ahrend & Brunzema organ to lend clarity to a reading which... —
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide -
The playing is infectiously high-spirited and extremely well recorded… the performances are full of fun and caprice and, as I say, superbly polished. Recommended, above all for esprit and freedom... —
Purchase product
Downloads
Audio formats guide
