Christoph Schaffrath - Harpsichord Concertos (Anna Firlus)

Information

Composer: Christoph Schaffrath

• Harpsichord Concerto in G Major, CSWV.C.41
• Harpsichord Concerto in C Minor, CSWV.C.11
• Harpsichord Concerto in A Minor, CSWV.C.53

Anna Firlus, harpsichord

{oh!} Orkiestra

Martyna Pastuszka, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Prospero Classical

_____________________

Christoph Schaffrath held a prominent place in mid-18th-century Berlin court life as a celebrated keyboard virtuoso, serving Frederick the Great and later Princess Anna Amalia. His compositions embody a transitional era, artfully blending late-Baroque contrapuntal rigor with the emotional expressiveness and melodic grace of the Empfindungsstil. Highlighting this legacy, Polish harpsichordist Anna Firlus and the period-instrument ensemble {oh} Orkiestra Historyczna, led by Martyna Pastuszka, present three of his rarely performed harpsichord concertos (in G major, C minor, and A minor). Their dynamic interpretation vividly restores the refined elegance, structural clarity, and expressive depth defining Schaffrath's distinguished concert style.

Born in Hohnstein, German musician and composer Christoph Schaffrath (1709–1763) was a key figure during the transition from the late Baroque to the early Classical era. After missing out on a Dresden organist position to Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, Schaffrath served Prince Paweł Karol Sanguszko before joining Crown Prince Frederick’s private orchestra in 1736 as a harpsichordist. From 1741 onward, he served as dedicated musician to Princess Anna Amalia. Schaffrath focused exclusively on instrumental compositions, notably galant-style symphonies, harpsichord concertos, and chamber works, the majority of which are preserved today in the Berlin State Library.

An alumna of the Karol Szymanowski Academy of Music in Katowice, Polish keyboardist Anna Firlus studied organ under Prof. J. Gembalski and harpsichord under Prof. M. Toporowski. A versatile soloist and chamber musician, she performs historically informed repertoire spanning the Renaissance to contemporary eras across major European festivals, including Bachfest Leipzig and Wigmore Hall. Firlus has been a core member of the {oh!} Orkiestra since 2015 and maintains an expansive discography spanning major labels such as Sony, CPO, and Dux. Currently, she serves as an academic lecturer in historical performance practice at her alma mater in Katowice.