The Telegraph has already declared that “never has Bach seemed less dry and more full of fantasy,” and the new release delivers on that promise. In a monumental project that pushes the boundaries of how we hear Baroque keyboard music, harpsichord virtuoso Mahan Esfahani teams with the Britten Sinfonia to record the full set of Johann Sebastian Bach’s keyboard concertos (BWV 1052‑1059) plus the rarely performed Triple Concerto (BWV 1044). The album, will be released in June 2026, and it offers a fresh sonic perspective that refuses to let the harpsichord be relegated to an “ancient” relic.
A Modern Take on a Classic Genre
Esfahani’s series has always challenged the status quo. While Bach’s original concertos were conceived for the harpsichord, an instrument whose timbre has been emulated by modern keyboards and period pieces for decades, Esfahani eschews period instruments entirely. “The harpsichord was never meant to be a ‘retro’ toy,” he explains, “it’s a living, breathing instrument that deserves to be heard on the same footing as the violin or flute.”
His liner notes underscore this point, arguing that Bach’s concertos were the first to put the keyboard in the spotlight, turning it from a basso continuo into a virtuosic solo voice. The recording therefore re‑establishes the harpsichord’s rightful place in the public concert hall.
The Complete Set, From the D‑minor Dark to the F‑major Triumph
The double‑CD set and the digital album as well, are a carefully curated journey through Bach’s late‑Leipzig output. Highlights include:
- BWV 1052 & 1053 – The opening minor and major concertos that showcase Bach’s daring dialogue between harpsichord and ensemble.
- BWV 1054 – A brilliant, light‑hearted masterpiece that turns the harpsichord into a “singer” and a “dancer.”
- BWV 1055 & 1056 – Contrast between a sunny A‑major concerto and a brooding F‑minor, each revealing a different facet of Bach’s compositional voice.
- BWV 1057 – A fully orchestrated work featuring wind instruments that proves the harpsichord can thrive in a dense, modern‑era texture.
- BWV 1058 & 1059 – The “lost” concerto reconstructed by Esfahani himself. The new version of BWV 1059 was a long‑awaited restoration, filling in the missing middle movement with a tasteful, improvisatory cembalo ad libitum.
Each concerto is paired with a brief, engaging commentary that situates the work in Bach’s “collegium musicum” world, a forum for experimentation that shaped the Baroque’s evolving tastes.
Triple Concerto & a Question of Authorship of Bach: The Complete Keyboard Concertos
The album also includes BWV 1044, the “Triple Concerto” for flute, violin, and harpsichord. While some scholars doubt its authorship, Mahan Esfahani treats it as a living artifact of Bach’s circle, an example of how Bach’s stylistic influence permeated his students’ works. The piece’s three movements weave together Bach’s own preludes and fugues with the virtuosic flair of his contemporaries.
Performance Philosophy
The Iranian born musician, Mahan Esfahani has long championed modern instruments for Baroque repertoire. In the liner notes he explains that performing on a modern harpsichord, designed to handle the full dynamic range, doesn’t compromise historical authenticity but instead “liberates the harpsichord from antiquity.” The recording’s ensemble is a balanced 12‑piece unit, each part played by a dedicated musician: violinist Jacqueline Shave, flutist Thomas Hancox, and recorder pair Michala Petri & Ian Wilson on BWV 1057.
The modern approach also allows the harpsichord’s percussive attack to stand out in contemporary concert halls, making the music accessible to today’s audiences without sacrificing Bach’s intricate counterpoint.
A Release Worth the Wait
The project’s genesis can be traced back to a 2016 flight from Beijing to London, where Esfahani experienced Bach’s D‑minor concerto for the first time with the Britten Sinfonia. The partnership with the ensemble, and the inclusion of world‑class musicians like Shave and Petri, has resulted in a recording that feels both scholarly and vibrant.
Don’t miss this historic moment for classical music lovers and Bach enthusiasts alike. Grab your copy of Bach: The Complete Keyboard Concertos and hear Bach in a brand‑new light from hyperion records official website.
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