Benda: Chamber Music and Songs (6CD)

Georg Benda was born into a musical nest: his father was composer Jan Jiri Benda and his mother came from the famous Brixi family. In 1742 Georg moved to Berlin where he worked at the court of Frederick the Great. He became a well known and internationally respected musician and composer, mainly of melodramas and operas. His “Ariadne auf Naxos” paved the way for Mozart’s operas. Benda published a collection of pieces meant for domestic use, for “accomplished and less accomplished players”, containing a wealth of keyboard works, chamber music and vocal works for solo voice and chamber group: delightful, fresh music, full of invention and (small) drama, marking the transition from the Baroque into the Classical Era. Excellent performances by harpsichordist Michele Benuzzi (who already received 5 star reviews for his Hassler recording for BC94293) and his Ensemble Arcomelo, playing on original instruments.