A Fine Achievement Symphonies by Carl Friedrich Abel - delight RODERIC DUNNETT '... Schneider manages to bring out the character of each of these individual pieces without overstating at any point.'

CPO 777 993-2 is a magnificent disc, typical of the kind of pioneering repertoire for which the German CPO label is to be congratulated and admired.

CPO's discoveries are invariably a revelation, bringing composers and their music from the Baroque, Classical and indeed Romantic eras back to prominence, awarding them the honour they deserve.

The playing on this desirable recording, conducted by flautist and virtuoso recorder player Michael Schneider, by his astoundingly proficient period band La Stagione Frankfurt — thirty years old this year — is highly impressive, on every possible ground.

Carl Friedrich Abel, whose 1777 portrait by Gainsborough graces the disc, was born two years before Bach took up his post at St Thomas's, Leipzig and nine years before Haydn...

CARL FRIEDRICH ABEL

GERMANY

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

CLASSIC PRODUKTION OSNABRUECK