Carl Friedrich Abel: Between Two Worlds – Jone Martínez

Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787) was born in Kothen, a small German city, where his father, played viola da gamba and cello in the court orchestra. In 1723 Abel senior became director of the orches- tra, when the previous director, Johann Sebastian Bach, moved to Leipzig. That the young Abel later attended the Leipzig Thomasschule and was taught there by Bach is not finally confirmed. What is known, however, is that he joined Johann Adolph Hasse’s court orchestra in Dresden on Bach’s recommendation in 1748, where he remained for nine years. On Bach’s recommendation in 1748 he was able to join Johann Adolph Hasse’s court orchestra at Dresden, where he remained for fifteen years. The consequences of the Seven Years’ War drove him out of Dresden, and via several intermediate stations he travelled to London in 1759, where he was appointed chamber musician to Queen Charlotte after a number of successful concerts. In 1762, Johann Christian Bach joined him in London, and the friendship between him and Abel led, in 1764 or 1765, to the establishment of the famous Bach-Abel concerts, England’s first subscription concerts. Abel illustrates the aesthetic, artistic and social changes that changed the world during the 18th century. At the same time he was a player of the viola da gamba – an instrument long associated with the aristocracy, then in full decline – as well as a composer who today we would call ‘avant-garde’, who tackled not only the newest musical styles, but also genres, as he played a fundamental role in the development of the symphony and he was one of the first composers of string quartets. This new recording presents a flute concerto, a cembalo concerto, a viola da gamba concerto and a symphony, music of great vitality, brilliance and affection, played by Alejandro Marias (viola da gamba), Rafael Ruiberriz de Torres (flute) and La Spagna Baroque Orchestra, in Historically Informed Performance style.