Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center Present Bach

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Parent Category: Film and the Arts

Category: Reviews

Published on Wednesday, 15 January 2025 14:47

Written by Jack Angstreich

Photo by Cherylynn Tsushima.

At the marvelous Alice Tully Hall, on the night of Friday, December 6th, I had the exceptional pleasure to attend a superb concert—presented by the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center—devoted to extraordinary concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The event began promisingly with the popular Italian Concerto in F major for Keyboard, BWV 971, admirably performed on the piano by Shai Wosner. A lively, Allegro first movement precedes a serious Andante and an exuberant, Presto finale.

Even better was a sterling account of the justly celebrated Concerto in A minor for Violin, Strings, and Continuo, BWV 1041, which featured violinists Bella Hristova, Ani Kavafian, and Danbi Um, violist Paul Neubauer, cellist Timothy Eddy, and bassist Anthony Manzo, with Wosner accompanying on harpsichord which he played for all the remaining works on the program. (Manzo and Eddy performed for all the rest of them as well.) The piece starts with a spirited Allegro and a song-like Andante, concluding with a jubilant Allegro assai.

The first half of the evening closed with the Concerto in C minor for Oboe, Violin, Strings, and Continuo, BWV 1060R, with oboist Juri Vallentin, violinists Cho-Liang Lin, Kavafian again and Julian Rhee, and violist James Thompson, who appeared in all the rest of the works. The opening Allegro is charming and vivacious and the celebrated, exquisite Adagio—it memorably appears in a key sequence in Bille August’s underrated film, Twist and Shout from 1984–is lyrical, while the Allegro finale is lively and propulsive.

In the balance of the program, exceptionally rewarding was the Concerto in F minor for Keyboard, Strings, and Continuo, BWV 1056, with Rhee, Hristova, Lin, and Neubauer, along with violinist Ida Kavafian. It has a sparkling, dance-like Allegro, a celestial Largo with a solemn undercurrent, and a rhythmic, even exultant, Presto finale.

Another highlight of the program was the less familiar Concerto in F major for Oboe, Strings, and Continuo, BWV 1053R, with Vallentin, Um, and Ani Kavafian also. The opening Allegro is enchanting and virtuosic, followed by a meditative Siciliano—which is a Baroque dance—that possesses gravity, with a sprightly and dynamic, Allegro finale.

The concert concluded splendidly with the popular Concerto in D minor for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo, BWV 1043, with all the musicians except Vallentin. An exciting Vivace leads to a slow movement marked Largo ma non tanto that is somber yet an epitome of grace, finishing with an enthralling Allegro.

The artists deservedly received an enthusiastic ovation.

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