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Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Biography (read more)

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach was a German composer of the transitional period between the Baroque and Classical eras, born in Weimar as the second surviving son of Johann Sebastian Bach. He served the Prussian court in Berlin from 1738 to 1768, earning the nickname “the Berlin Bach,” before succeeding his godfather Telemann as music director in Hamburg, where he remained until his death. His output centers on keyboard sonatas—nearly 200 written during his Berlin years—alongside symphonies, concertos, chamber music, sacred oratorios and passions, and the influential treatise Essay on the True Art of Playing Keyboard Instruments. He died in Hamburg in 1788.

A principal exponent of the expressive empfindsamer Stil, C.P.E. Bach is regarded as a pivotal transitional figure whose keyboard sonatas and treatise shaped the emerging Classical style and directly influenced Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, with Mozart reportedly remarking, “Bach is the father, we are the children.” After a period of relative neglect in the nineteenth century, his music underwent a significant revival from the 1960s onward, and today he is recognized as a major composer in his own right, distinct from his father’s legacy.

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Repertoire

2 Piano Sonatas, Wq. 59: IV. Rondo in C Minor, H. 283
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The Last Recital at Besançon— Dinu Lipatti
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Performed by Dinu Lipatti

6 Harpsichord Concertos, Wq. 43, No. 4 in C Minor: I. Allegro assai— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

6 Harpsichord Concertos, Wq. 43, No. 4 in C Minor: II. Poco adagio— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

6 Harpsichord Concertos, Wq. 43, No. 4 in C Minor: III. Tempo di minuetto— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

6 Harpsichord Concertos, Wq. 43, No. 4 in C Minor: IV. Allegro assai— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

Keyboard Sonata No. 31 (Divertimento) in A-Flat Major, Hob. XVI.46: I. Allegro moderato— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 31 (Divertimento) in A-Flat Major, Hob. XVI.46: II. Adagio— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 31 (Divertimento) in A-Flat Major, Hob. XVI.46: III. Finale. Presto— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 33 in C Minor, Hob. XVI.20: I. Moderato— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 33 in C Minor, Hob. XVI.20: II. Andante con moto— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 33 in C Minor, Hob. XVI.20: III. Allegro— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 34 in D Major, Hob. XVI.33: I. Allegro— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 34 in D Major, Hob. XVI.33: II. Adagio— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 34 in D Major, Hob. XVI.33: III. Tempo di Menuet— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata in A major, H.186: I. Allegro assai— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata in A major, H.186: II. Poco adagio— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata in A major, H.186: III. Allegro— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata in G Major, H. 187: I. Allegretto moderato— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata in G Major, H. 187: II. Andante— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata in G Major, H. 187: III. Allegro di molto— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Piano Concerto in D Minor, Wq. 23: I. Allegro— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Piano Concerto in D Minor, Wq. 23: II. Poco andante— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Piano Concerto in D Minor, Wq. 23: III. Allegro assai— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Sonata for Flute Solo in A Minor, Wq. 132: I. Poco adagio— Edith Picht-Axenfeld
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Performed by Edith Picht-Axenfeld

Sonata for Flute Solo in A Minor, Wq. 132: II. Allegro— Edith Picht-Axenfeld
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Performed by Edith Picht-Axenfeld

Sonata for Flute Solo in A Minor, Wq. 132: III. Allegro— Edith Picht-Axenfeld
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Performed by Edith Picht-Axenfeld

Suite in E minor, W. 62: III. Sarabande— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Suite in E minor, W. 62: IV. Menuets 1,2 & 3— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Suite in E minor, W. 62: V. Gigue— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in C Minor, H. 121: I. Allegro assai ma pomposo— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in C Minor, H. 121: II. Andantino pathetico— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in C Minor, H. 121: III. Allegro scherzando— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Fanasia in D Major, H. 291: I. Allegro di molto— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Fanasia in D Major, H. 291: II. Allegretto— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Fanasia in D Major, H. 291: III. Presto di molto— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, H. 37: III. Allegro assai— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, H. 37: I. Allegro – Adagio – Allegro— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in F-Sharp Minor, H. 37: II. Poco andante— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in G Major, H. 119: I. Allegro assai— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in G Major, H. 119: II. Andante— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in G Major, H. 119: III. Presto— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in E Minor, H. 281: I. Presto— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in E Minor, H. 281: II. Adagio— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in E Minor, H. 281: III. Andantino— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in G Minor, H. 47: I. Allegro— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in G Minor, H. 47: II. Adagio— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in G Minor, H. 47: III. Allegro assai— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

Keyboard Concerto in D Major: I. Allegro di molto— Artur Schnabel
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Performed by Artur Schnabel

Keyboard Concerto in D Major: II. Andante— Artur Schnabel
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Performed by Artur Schnabel

Keyboard Concerto in D Major: III. Allegretto— Artur Schnabel
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Performed by Artur Schnabel

C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concerto in A Major, H. 439: I. Allegro— Steven Isserlis
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Performed by Steven Isserlis

C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concerto in A Major, H. 439: II. Largo con sordini, mesto— Steven Isserlis
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Performed by Steven Isserlis

C.P.E. Bach: Cello Concerto in A Major, H. 439: III. Allegro assai— Steven Isserlis
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Performed by Steven Isserlis

C.P.E. Bach: Trio Sonata in B Minor, H. 567: I. Allegro— Lisa Batiashvili
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Performed by Lisa Batiashvili

C.P.E. Bach: Trio Sonata in B Minor, H. 567: II. Adagio— Lisa Batiashvili
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Performed by Lisa Batiashvili

C.P.E. Bach: Trio Sonata in B Minor, H. 567: III. Presto— Lisa Batiashvili
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Performed by Lisa Batiashvili

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 29, Über die Finsternis kurz vor dem Tode Jesu— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 29, Über die Finsternis kurz vor dem Tode Jesu— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 14, Der Frühling— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 14, Der Frühling— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 7, Prüfung am Abend— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 7, Prüfung am Abend— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 15, Morgengesang— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 15, Morgengesang— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 9, Bitten— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 9, Bitten— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 29, Trost der Erlösung— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 29, Trost der Erlösung— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Fantasie in C minor from Wq. 254 (“Probestuecke”)— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 14, Passionslied— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 14, Passionslied— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 33, Die Güte Gottes— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 33, Die Güte Gottes— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 1, Abendlied— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 1, Abendlied— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 48, Wider den Übermuth— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 48, Wider den Übermuth— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 47, Demuth— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Oden und Lieder I, H. 686: No. 47, Demuth— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Fantasie In C Major, Wq. 61,6— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Psalmen mit Melodien, H.733: Psalm 19— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Psalmen mit Melodien, H.733: Psalm 19— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Psalmen mit Melodien, H.733: Psalm 130— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Psalmen mit Melodien, H.733: Psalm 130— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 11, Weihnachtslied— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 11, Weihnachtslied— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge II, H. 752: No. 29, Jesus in Gethsemane— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge II, H. 752: No. 29, Jesus in Gethsemane— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 13, Der Tag des Weltgerichts— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Geistliche Gesänge I, H. 749: No. 13, Der Tag des Weltgerichts— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

C.P.E. Bach: Psalmen mit Melodien, H.733: Psalm 148— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Psalmen mit Melodien, H.733: Psalm 148— Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau
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Performed by Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau

Keyboard Sonata No. 32 in G Minor, Hob. XVI.44: I. Moderato— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Keyboard Sonata No. 32 in G Minor, Hob. XVI.44: II. Allegretto— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Sonata in F Major, H. 269: I. Andantino— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Sonata in F Major, H. 269: II. Presto— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Flute Concerto in A Minor, Wq. 166: I. Allegro assai— Emmanuel Pahud
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Performed by Emmanuel Pahud

Flute Concerto in A Minor, Wq. 166: III. Allegro assai— Emmanuel Pahud
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Performed by Emmanuel Pahud

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, H. 30: I. Moderato— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 1 in A Minor, H. 30: II. Andante— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 3 in E Minor, H. 33: I. Allegro— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 3 in E Minor, H. 33: II. Adagio— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 4 in B-Flat Major, H. 32: I. Un poco allegro— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 4 in B-Flat Major, H. 32: II. Andante— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 6 in B Minor, H. 36: I. Moderato— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 6 in B Minor, H. 36: III. Allegro— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

Rondo in G Major, H. 271: Poco andante— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

12 Variations über die Folie d’Espagne, H.263— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Rondo in E-Flat Major, H. 288— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor Wq. 23, H. 427: I. Allegro— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor Wq. 23, H. 427: Ii. Poco andante— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor Wq. 23, H. 427: Iii. Allegro assai— Artur Balsam
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Performed by Artur Balsam

C.P.E. Bach: Violin Sonata in C Minor, Wq. 78 – 1. Allegro moderato— Bruno Canino
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Performed by Bruno Canino

C.P.E. Bach: Violin Sonata in C Minor, Wq. 78 – 2. Adagio ma non troppo— Bruno Canino
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Performed by Bruno Canino

C.P.E. Bach: Violin Sonata in C Minor, Wq. 78 – 3. Presto— Bruno Canino
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Performed by Bruno Canino

La de Vatre— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

La Sylva— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

La Marella— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

L’Affligée— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Gagliarda Napolitana— Jos Van Immerseel
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Performed by Jos Van Immerseel

Bunte Blätter, Op. 99: III. Stücklein— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

Notebook for Anna Magdelena Bach: Polonaise in G Minor (BWV Anh. 125)— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

Solo per il Cembalo, H.16— Jörg Demus
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Performed by Jörg Demus

C.P.E. Bach: Rondo in A Major, H. 276— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Rondo in D Minor, H. 290— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Rondo in C Minor, H. 283— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

C.P.E. Bach: Sonata in A Major, H. 135: II. Andante con tenerezza— Mikhail Pletnev
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Performed by Mikhail Pletnev

La Boehmer in D Major, H. 81: Prestissimo— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

Solfeggietto in C Minor, H. 220— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach: Marche in D Major, BWV Anh. 122— Cyprien Katsaris
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Performed by Cyprien Katsaris

Paride ed Elena, Wq. 39, Act 1 Scene 1: No. 1b, Arioso, “O del mio dolce ardor bramato…— Teresa Berganza
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Performed by Teresa Berganza

C.P.E. Bach: Sinfonia in D Major, H. 663: II. Largo— Iestyn Davies
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Performed by Iestyn Davies

Flute Concerto in G Major, Wq. 169: III. Presto— Emmanuel Pahud
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Performed by Emmanuel Pahud

Flute Concerto in D Minor: III. Allegro di molto (After Harpsichord Concerto, Wq. 22)— Emmanuel Pahud
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Performed by Emmanuel Pahud

Harpsichord Concerto in D Minor, H. 427: I. Allegro— Jean Rondeau
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Performed by Jean Rondeau

C.P.E. Bach: Flute Concerto in G, Wq. 169: 3. Presto— Peter Schreier
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Performed by Peter Schreier

C.P.E. Bach: Württemberg Sonata No. 2 in A-Flat Major, H. 31: III. Allegro— Mahan Esfahani
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Performed by Mahan Esfahani

C.P.E. Bach: Der Frühling, Wq. 197— Hermann Prey
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Performed by Hermann Prey

C.P.E. Bach: Passionslied, Wq. 194— Hermann Prey
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Performed by Hermann Prey

C.P.E. Bach: 2 Clavier-Sonaten, 2 Fantasien und 2 Rondos für Kenner und Liebhaber, Wq. 59: IV….— Daniil Trifonov
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Performed by Daniil Trifonov

C.P.E. Bach: Polonaise in G Minor, BWV Anh. 125 (Notebook for Anna Magdalena Bach, 1725)— Daniil Trifonov
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Performed by Daniil Trifonov

Rondo in G Major, Wq 133— Konrad Ragossnig
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Performed by Konrad Ragossnig

Hamburger Sonata in G Major, Wq. 133: I. Allegretto (Arr. By Alon Sariel)— Alon Sariel
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Performed by Alon Sariel

Hamburger Sonata in G Major, Wq. 133: II. Rondo Presto (Arr. By Alon Sariel)— Alon Sariel
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Performed by Alon Sariel