For those unaware, Jeannette Sorrell, the celebrated founder-director of Cleveland-based baroque orchestra Apollo’s Fire, first fell in love with the harpsichord upon hearing three masterpieces by Johann Sebastian Bach: the composer’s concerto in D minor, BWV1052; F minor, BWV1056; and his Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire recorded the complete Brandenburg Concertos in 1999 and released them together with the D and F minor Concertos as bonuses, with the album debuting in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Traditional Classical Albums Chart.

This celebratory 25th anniversary reissue (out October 18th, 2024 via AVIE Records) brings together Apollo’s Fire’s renditions of Jeannette’s favorite Bach harpsichord concertos.

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685–1750)
Brandenburg Concerto no. 4 in G major, BWV 1049*
Alan Choo, violin | Daphna Mor & Kathie Stewart, recorders
1. I. Allegro (7:05)
2. II. Andante (3:48)
3. III. Presto (4:58)

GEORG PHILLIP TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Burlesque de Don Quixotte (Don Quixote Suite), TWV55**
4. I. Ouverture (4:31)
5. II. Don Quixote awakens (1:40)
6. III. His attack on the windmills (1:55)
7. IV. Sighs of love for Princess Dulcinea (3:35)
8. V. Sancho Panza tossed in a blanket (1:47)
9. VI. The galloping of Rosinante, and that of Sancho’s mule (2:40)
10. VII. Quixote asleep (1:11)

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068*
11. II. Air 4:39

Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin, BWV 1060*
Debra Nagy, oboe | Johanna Novom, violin
12. I. Allegro (4:55)
13. II. Adagio (5:14)
14. III. Allegro (3:38)

ANTONIO VIVALDI (1678-1741), arr. Sorrell
15. La Folia (“Madness”) Concerto grosso, after the Sonata Op. 1, no. 12 (10:48)**
Francisco Fullana & Alan Choo, violins

*Previously unreleased
** 2024 remaster

This simply heavenly, organically divine new recording opens on the lavish Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto no. 4 in G major, BWV 1049, which opens on the Jeannette Sorrell and Apollo’s Fire Allegro, before bringing forth the supple Andante, closing on the elegance of Presto.

Along next is the divine Telemann’s Burlesque de Don Quixotte (Don Quixote Suite), TWV55, which begins on the forthright, yet flexible Ouverture, the playful Don Quixote awakens, and the robust His attack on the windmills, and then continues onward with the delicate Sighs of love for Princess Dulcinea, the royally-imbibed Sancho Panza tossed in a blanket, closing on the strident pairing of The galloping of Rosinante Sancho’s mule, and the free flowing Quixote asleep.

Then comes the well known, aching yearn that accompanies Bach’s Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068, and a gorgeous swell that drives Air, with that piece followed by his lush work Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin, BWV 1060, which opens on the ample Allegro, then comes the doleful Adagio, culminating on the unbashed Allegro; the final work being Vivaldi’s ten minute work of sterling sheer brilliance throughout La Folia (“Madness”) Concerto grosso, after the Sonata Op. 1, no. 12.

Bach’s Coffeehouse features new recordings of Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 with virtuoso soloists Alan Choo, the Singaporean violinist and Assistant Artistic Director of Apollo’s Fire, and recorder player Daphna Mohr; the Double Concerto for Oboe and Violin with Debra Nagy and violinist Johanna Novom; and “Air on a G String” from Orchestral Suite No. 3.

Rounding out the album, Apollo’s Fire brings back catalogue favorites by two of Bach’s contemporaries: Telemann’s swaggering Don Quixote Suite, and Vivaldi’s fiery “La folia”, featuring Alan Choo and Spanish violinist Francisco Fullana.

(1–3) recorded November 2023 at St. Paul’s Church, Cleveland Heights, OH
(4–10) recorded October 2002 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, OH
(11) recorded April 2021 at First Baptist Church, Shaker Heights, OH
(12-14) recorded February 2018 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Cleveland Heights, OH
(15) recorded April 2021 at Avon Lake United Church of Christ, Avon Lake, OH

Official Purchase Link

Official Jeannette Sorrell Website

Official Apollo’s Fire Website