Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach: Magnificat

"These are the first recordings of the original versions of both the Magnificat (from 1749) and the Christmas cantata, Die Himmel erzahlen die Ehre Gottes (The Heavens are Telling,  probably 1773) by Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Quite without spectacle or effect, these performances recommend themselves from first note to last. The singing is pointed, meticulously articulated, clean and full of pathos, poignancy, celebration and awe as needed. The instrumental forces are equally sharp and pleasing. The strings in particular of L'arpa festante sound both at home and fully relaxed. At the same time they retain all of the music's bite: listen to the attack and sustained lines in the "Quia fecit" [tr.11], for instance." (classical.net)