Giovanni Battista Pergolesi (1710-1736): Sinfonia from L'Olimpiade
Johann Gottfried Walther (1684-1748): Concerto in B minor (Organ)
Antonio Vivaldi (1678-1741): Concerto con Viola d'amore in D major
Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782): Concerto for Bassoon in B-flat major
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767):
- Sinfonia in G major "Cricket Symphony"
- Ouverture à la Pastorelle

A captivating incursion into the lesser-known corners of the Baroque period. This is Volume 4 of a series of recordings featuring the German baroque orchestra Caterva Musica founded in 1998, celebrating the ensemble's 25th anniversary. As much as possible they employ original instruments or reconstructed copies thereof, with a totally modern approach to performance delivering a rich and vibrant sound.

With its inclusion of an array of wind instruments, Pergolesi's Sinfonia from L'Olimpiade brings to mind Handel's Music for the Royal Fireworks, especially within its opening Allegro. The Concerto in B minor by Johann Gottfried Walther, an unjustly overlooked contemporary of Johann Sebastian Bach, is an aural delight. The use of a small chamber organ with an authentic baroque character, lends the work a bright sound and effervescent tempo. The Largo movement from Vivaldi's Concerto con Viola d'amore in D major brings out this ensemble's expressive potential and darker temperament. And at the other end of the spectrum, the Bourrée from Telemann's Ouverture à la Pastorelle reveals their sprightly and animated delivery. As well, the sound of the bassoon (fagott) in the Concerto for Bassoon in B-flat major by Johann Christian Bach, played here with adept ease and vitality by Rainer Johannsen, is a treat to hear as it tweaks the ensemble's sonic character.

The ideal CD with which to cleanse your musical palette and discover gems off the beaten path.