The legendary original sound ensemble Concerto Köln

"Instead, listening to this familiar baroque sound language is pure enjoyment. Especially as Concerto Köln alone concentrates here simply on the spirit, on the rhythmic and lyrical magic of this music, instead of putting itself in the limelight as other ensembles do in an effective and fast-paced manner. The icing on the cake, however, is Clara Blessing. Everything flows and “sings” with her, thanks to her agile, light and airy playing."

(Rondo, 26.10.2024, Guido Fischer)

 

“And Clara Blessing indeed “tracts” her oboe in a most “mannerly” way, makes her oboe sing, speak like a human voice, babble and chatter, makes it chirp and bubble and dance, but also lament and lament ariosely and generally shine in all timbres.”

“It is unobtrusively perfect right down to the bass section, compact and homogeneous in its overall sound, with a well-balanced sound of the individual instrumental groups, agile in gesture and lively in dance - so that a “Grave” naturally does not sound grave-heavy, but lively in dance. The solo violins in the Concerto grosso in E major exude a melodic dolcezza and the Sinfonia in G minor, both by Giovanni Sammartini, concludes the CD with a stormy exuberance.”

(Klassik heute, 13.11.2024, Rainer W. Janka)