Johann Bernhard Bach - Orchestral Suites (Freiburger Barockorchester)

Information

Composer: Johann Bernhard Bach

• Overture-Suite No. 1 in G Minor
• Overture-Suite No. 2 in G Major
• Overture-Suite No. 3 in E Minor
• Overture-Suite No. 4 in D Major

Freiburger Barockorchester

Date: 1993 / 2026

Label: Warner Classics

_____________________

On May 23, the 350th anniversary of Johann Bernhard Bach (1676–1749) honors one of the most accomplished members of the Bach family. Highly respected by his second cousin Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Bernhard’s orchestral suites were regularly performed by the Collegium Musicum in Leipzig. Their survival is owed largely to copies preserved in Johann Sebastian’s personal archives. These compositions form an important bridge between the French musical style of the Grand Siècle and the later orchestral suites perfected by Johann Sebastian. Conductor Thomas Hengelbrock brings these works to life with energetic and refined interpretations, offering a fitting tribute to this influential yet often overlooked composer.

Freiburger Barockorchester is a renowned German ensemble specializing in historically informed performance practice, founded in 1987 in Freiburg im Breisgau. Widely regarded as one of the world’s leading period-instrument orchestras, the ensemble is celebrated for its energetic interpretations of Baroque and Classical repertoire, while also exploring Romantic and contemporary works. Led primarily by concertmasters such as Gottfried von der Goltz and collaborating with distinguished conductors and soloists, the orchestra performs regularly at major international venues and festivals. Its extensive, award-winning discography and commitment to musical scholarship have made it a major influence in the global early music movement.