Music review: Bach: Keyboard Concertos 1. St Cecila's Hall, Edinburgh


Bach: Keyboard Concertos 1. St Cecila's Hall, Edinburgh * * * *
Its oval shape transports sound evenly to every corner of the auditorium, so that even the most delicate ensemble, in this case two harpsichords and one-to-a-part string ripieno, can be heard to the finest detail. Add the quality of harpsichords available through the wonderful in-house early instruments collection, and the package is all but complete.
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Hide AdRequired to top it off are musicians and performances of equal calibre, which is what began to emerge as duelling harpsichordists Mahan Esfahani and Aapo Häkkinen, along with with members of the Dunedin Consort, opened the series with Bach’s solo Concerto in D and Double Concerto in C minor.
The same went for his transitional solo spot. The double concerto was the transformative moment, Esfahani’s easeful musicality inspiring warmth and excitement, and magical interchanges in the Largo. Bodes well.