During the years when Bach was in the service of the courts of Prince Leopold in Cothen, he had his own orchestra and was contracted to compose a great deal of instrumental music. This gave him an opportunity to try new techniques and to develop his own instrumental style. The six Brandenburg Concertos belong to these masterpieces, which he composed for a small ensemble. The joyously infectious performance of these masterpieces by The Freiburg Baroque Orchestra demonstrates both the pleasure and highest professional standard that can be reached.

Mahler was a fantastic composer. He takes you from the depths of despair to the heights of joy with his music. Drama, majesty, serenity then more again. Claudio Abbado leading a large orchestra with a choir and a beautiful voiced soprano more than does the score justice. All round a real good listen and watch.

Stanley Black OBE (June 14, 1913 - November 27, 2002) was an English light music conductor, arranger and pianist. He wrote and arranged many film scores and recorded prolifically for the Decca label (including London and Phase 4). Beginning with jazz collaborations with American musicians such as Coleman Hawkins and Benny Carter during the 1930s, he moved into arranging and recording in the Latin American style and also won awards for his classical conducting. This CD contains some traditional and classical pieces from Russia.