Johann Heinrich Rolle - Sinfonias; Harpsichord Concertos (Michael Alexander Willens)

Information

Composer: Johann Heinrich Rolle

• Sinfonia in D Major
• Harpsichord Concerto in F Major
• Sinfonia in B-Flat Major
• Harpsichord Concerto in G Minor
• Sinfonia in F Major

Michael Borgstede, harpsichord

Die Kölner Akademie

Michael Alexander Willens, conductor

Date: 2025

Label: CPO

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Johann Heinrich Rolle (1716–1785) was a transitional composer whose career bridged the Baroque and Classical eras. Born while Bach was active and dying as Mozart rose to prominence, Rolle embodied the stylistic shift of his time. He held various roles, including organist, legal adviser, court musician in Berlin, and later cantor and music director in Magdeburg. Though known primarily for his oratorios and cantatas, his instrumental works—such as those in the symphonic-concertante style—reflect the elegance, lightness, and charm of the gallant style, offering music that is refined, entertaining, and firmly rooted in 18th-century taste.

Michael Alexander Willens (b. 1952) is an acclaimed American conductor and Music Director of Die Kölner Akademie. Trained at Juilliard under John Nelson and later at Tanglewood with Leonard Bernstein, Willens possesses a wide-ranging expertise in performance styles spanning Baroque to contemporary, including jazz and pop. He has led concerts across Europe, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East, earning critical acclaim for both standard and lesser-known repertoire. Passionate about rediscovering forgotten works, he has released over 40 recordings—many award-winning—praised for their expressive depth and stylistic precision. Willens also champions contemporary American composers and premieres new works.