Following on from their critically acclaimed series, Ensemble Diderot continues its ‘city series’ – after Dresden, Paris and London, now Berlin. All the works (except one) in this new recording are world premiere recordings – really exciting music. Uniquely, and some might say something rather radical for a “Berlin Album”, no CPE Bach, no Quantz and no flute!

Instead, on this rare selection of Trio Sonatas from Berlin, the Ensemble Diderot uses a wonderful copy of a Silbermann fortepiano – the same as Frederick II had at the court – which gives an incredible variety of colours. When one contemplates mid-eighteenth-century music from Berlin, the first thing that comes to mind is undoubtedly the flute-playing King Frederick II (“the Great”), and one asks oneself if a “Berlin” album should actually be a “Potsdam” album.

The idea behind the present recording is to focus on Berlin, but without taking into account the three usually perceived musical protagonists: Frederick, his flute, and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. However, it is indeed primarily thanks to the cultural policy of the Prussian monarch that Berlin became a noteworthy musical centre. In contrast to Dresden, in Berlin music was not only made at court, but throughout the city and beyond. There were countless private venues in the capital city in which concerts were given with the participation of members of the royal chapel.

Double bass player Janitsch continued the weekly concert series that he had already organised in Rheinsberg as “Friday Academies”.

Chamber music in Berlin was firmly in the hands of professional musicians – the compositions they played were not mass-produced pieces, but rather substantial works that were likewise demanding in terms of technique – both violins play here on an entirely equal footing passages in seventh position that are more reminiscent of solo passages in a virtuoso violin concerto than chamber music for domestic use. All in all, Berlin, in contrast to Dresden, was a true chamber music El Dorado.

Previous recordings have gained universal praise from the critics.

“A dream team for this repertoire.” – Early Music Review

“The Ensemble Diderot plays these works with nimble expertise and good spirit” – Gramophone

Ensemble Diderot:
- Johannes Pramsohler (violin)
- Roldán Bernabé (violin)
- Gulrim Choï (cello)
- Philippe Grisvard (harpsichord, fortepiano)