Tag Archives: original instruments

Musicians of the ACO enveloped us in the pure joy of sweet-sounding, often deeply inspired chamber music of the Rococo period by J.C. Bach, Michael Haydn, and Mozart.

A period-instrument concert revealed Mozart and Beethoven as they were heard in their own time, including a concerto played on the fortepiano.

Beethoven's "Eroica" Symphony was a jubilant finish to the American Classical Orchestra's season under Thomas Crawford, showing their mastery of, and ardent feeling for, the classical repertoire.

The venerable original-instruments orchestra presented familiar and seldom-heard works, including Brahms's 'Alto Rhapsody' and music by Schubert and Ferdinand Ries.

With polished young performers on many different instruments at her disposal, Podger presented a wide range of music that featured flutes, oboes, and bassoon as well as strings.

With rich harmonics, thrilling tension, and remarkable spatial awareness, the ACO made a thoroughly convincing case for how worthwhile it is to make the effort to present works like Beethoven's Symphony No. 7 with original instruments.

The contrast between classical-period instruments and modern ones is a bit like that between an original vinyl recording and a CD remastering.

I've heard it said many times and I agree that the period-instrument movement was one of the two or three most refreshing and lifeblood-giving events in a century to keep classical music alive.