Freiburger Barockorchester

Artist ∙ Classical

The Freiburger Barockorchester (Freiburg Baroque Orchestra) is a period-instrument ensemble focused on the authentic performance of Baroque music, though its repertoire extends into the Classical and Romantic periods as well. The Freiburger Barockorchester is mainly led by the concertmaster and often features members of the ensemble as soloists. The group earned Ensemble of the Year (Historical Instruments) at the 2012 Echo Klassik Awards. The Freiburger Barockorchester has remained active as a recording group, issuing several albums most years. Among these is a recording of Mozart's Youth Symphonies in 2019 and a cycle of Beethoven's piano concertos, with co-artistic director Kristian Bezuidenhout as the soloist and Pablo Heras-Casado conducting; the final volume of this set was released in 2022. That year, the Freiburger Barockorchester signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon.

November 7, 2011 at PST
Bach: Orchestral Suites
24 Tracks
March 3, 2013 at PST
Bach: Violin Concertos
12 Tracks
October 26, 2017 at PDT
Mozart: Requiem, K. 626 (Süssmayr / Dutron 2016 Completion)
What makes this recording of Mozart’s Requiem memorable is the use of the completion by the French composer Pierre-Henri Dutron. He takes the commonly heard edition by Franz Xaver Süssmayr as a starting point and works from there—the result is not as radical as you might expect, but it has the huge advantage of tidying up and adding some imaginative touches to some of Süssmayr’s more earthbound solutions. It emphasizes the human scale of the work and relieves it of some of its grandeur, and René Jacobs conducts his superb musicians with burning conviction.
15 Tracks
August 24, 2017 at PDT
Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto - Symphony No. 5 & The Hebrides
This installment in Heras-Casado’s invigorating Mendelssohn symphony cycle from Freiburger comes with a magnificent “extra”—Isabelle Faust, one of the most individual and inspiring violinists of the day, plays the Violin Concerto as if it were newly minted. She hones in on the work’s freshness and originality, and the performance sparkles and sings with the joy of youth. Alongside it, Mendelssohn’s Reformation Symphony (No. 5) glows with autumnal colors, but its originality, too, is wonderfully conveyed.
8 Tracks
August 12, 2015 at PDT
J. S. Bach: Harpsichord Concertos
Despite its name, the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra has embraced the music of Schumann, Mendelssohn, and Weber to great acclaim—and it’s arguably this flexibility and refusal to be pigeonholed that make its Baroque performances so exciting and charged with dramatic tension. This superb recording of all of Bach’s solo keyboard concertos showcases the Freiburgers at their best, with each musician alert and responsive to harpsichordist Andreas Staier’s extraordinary playing, combining driving energy with a beguiling expressiveness. Clear as ice yet shot through with gleams of expressive detail, these are performances that yield increasing rewards with every single listen.
21 Tracks
October 6, 2016 at PDT
Bach & Telemann: Sacred Cantatas
The star countertenor takes up Bach and Telemann.
21 Tracks
January 30, 2008 at PST
Mozart: The Last Concertos
6 Tracks
October 25, 2006 at PDT
Handel: Messiah
44 Tracks
October 18, 2010 at PDT
Telemann: Complete Tafelmusik
69 Tracks
August 25, 2016 at PDT
Mozart: Piano Concertos, K. 413, 414 & 415
9 Tracks
May 18, 2023 at PDT
Mozart's Mannheim
The stylish Freiburg Baroque Orchestra focus on the winter of 1777-’78 when Mozart was resident in Mannheim, a city renowned for its magnificent orchestra. As well as some Mozartian rarities, such as the sprightly Symphony in C, K. 102, with its effervescent string writing, and a recitative and aria sung winningly by Nicole Chevalier, there are four world-premiere recordings of works that Mozart might have heard. The energetic Symphony No. 55 by Mozart’s friend Christian Cannabich is notable for its use of clarinets while the Violin Concerto by Mozart’s pupil Christian Danner is a delight, especially as played here by Gottfried von der Golz, while Carlo Giuseppe Toeschi and Georg Joseph Vogler are represented by sparkling miniatures.
14 Tracks
November 11, 2021 at PST
Telemann, Platti, Vivaldi & Geminiani: Concerti all'arrabbiata
Taking its name from the classic Italian chili-based pasta sauce, this is an album that’s suitably full of flavor. The authentic Italian spice comes from the little-known composer Giovanni Benedetto Platti and two of the Baroque era’s stars, Vivaldi and Geminiani. They both inspire characteristically pungent playing from the Freiburger Barockorchester, drawing some terrific solo work from among its ranks while gorgeous winds complement the stylish strings. Providing starter and pudding for this five-course feast is the German Georg Philipp Telemann, who clearly knew how to work with the finest Italian ingredients. His Grillen-Symphonie (Cricket Symphony) is full of mischief and a lot of fun.
15 Tracks
January 19, 2023 at PST
Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3-5
Spellbindingly joyful accounts of some of Mozart’s most heartfelt music.
9 Tracks
March 8, 2015 at PDT
Schumann: Violin Concerto & Piano Trio
7 Tracks
January 24, 2007 at PST
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 38 "Prague" & No. 41 "Jupiter"
7 Tracks
April 11, 2024 at PDT
Bach & Telemann: Himmelfahrt
There’s a crisp magnificence to this recording, celebrating the Feast of Ascension through vocal works by J.S. Bach and his near-contemporary Georg Telemann. Here the chamber choir Vox Luminis is made up of just 16 voices, resulting in a sound that’s not just agile, but warm and fulsome, too. And they make perfect partners for the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra who respond with equal nimbleness.

From bar one, the music glistens like silver, director Lionel Meunier driving the opening chorus of Bach’s 1735 Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11 with a thrilling energy. Bach includes trumpets and timpani in the opening and closing choruses, both of which blaze with infectious joy. And in between, the oratorio takes on a more contemplative character, with beautiful arias and recitatives that showcase Vox Luminis’ choral blend and solo talents.

Next to Bach’s astonishing vocal output, it’s easy to forget that Georg Telemann’s contribution to the cantata genre was even more prolific (if not necessarily of the same quality). Ich fahre auf zu meinem Vater (I am going to my Father) is one of more than 30 Ascension cantatas written by Telemann and possesses a lithe playfulness, almost Handelian in nature. Every note is beautifully captured by these superb musicians, while the soprano aria “Ich kann getrost im Tode sein” (“I can find comfort in death”) is particularly lovely.

We finish with one of Bach’s most glorious creations, Auf Christi Himmelfahrt allein (On Christ’s ascent to heaven alone) with its densely scored opening chorus, contrasting arias, and a final chorale that brings this stunning recording to a warm yet jubilant close.
22 Tracks
August 30, 2006 at PDT
Locatelli: Concerti Grossi, Op. 1
27 Tracks
October 5, 2009 at PDT
Haydn: The Creation
32 Tracks
April 22, 2004 at PDT
Haydn: Concertos Pour Violoncelle
9 Tracks
July 29, 2015 at PDT
Schumann: Piano Concerto & Piano Trio No. 2
7 Tracks
September 26, 2007 at PDT
Mozart: Don Giovanni
61 Tracks
November 14, 2024 at PST
Mozart: Piano Concertos K. 459 & 488
6 Tracks
February 8, 2018 at PST
Handel: Concerti a due cori
19 Tracks
March 26, 2003 at PST
Haydn: Cello Concertos
9 Tracks
January 21, 2016 at PST
Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4
8 Tracks

Freiburger Barockorchester

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