Johann Sebastian Bach; Gwen Cresens - Betsubara (Gwen Cresens; Boho Strings Anterp)

Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach; Gwen Cresens

• Bach - Concerto No. 7 in G Minor, BWV 1058
• Cresens - Betsubara, Concerto for Accordion and String Orchestra
• Bach - Concerto No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1056

Gwen Cresens, accordion

Boho Strings Anterp

David Ramael, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Verlie's Belgian Waffle

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Betsubara presents a dynamic collaboration between accordionist-composer Gwen Cresens, conductor David Ramael, and Boho Strings Antwerp, exploring new expressive possibilities within the music of J.S. Bach. Rooted in the Japanese concept of a "second stomach", symbolizing a lingering appetite for creative discovery, the project highlights the unique affinity between Bach’s counterpoint and the accordion’s expressive, sustained tones. Cresens’s improvisational cadenzas within Bach’s concertos ultimately inspired his own original three-movement concerto, Betsubara. Blending classical precision with influences from jazz and tango, the album transforms historical reverence into vibrant contemporary creation, celebrating the generative space where distinct musical traditions intersect.

Born in Antwerp in 1975, Belgian accordionist, bandoneonist, arranger, and composer Gwen Cresens studied classical accordion at the Royal Conservatory of Antwerp. Since 1993, he has cultivated a highly versatile career, collaborating with premier classical ensembles like the Brussels Philharmonic and Flemish Philharmonic Orchestra, prominent theater companies, and acclaimed artists across diverse genres, including Luciano Pavarotti, Arno, and Axelle Red. Beyond founding his own group, Orquesta Tanguedia, Cresens has contributed heavily to film and television, composing and performing soundtracks for notable productions such as De Smaak van De Keyser, Van vlees en bloed, and Het varken van Madonna.

High Resolution 24-bit / 48 kHz