Stella de Almeida - Polonaises e fantasias (2019)

“Johann Sebastian Bach's music has always been present in my life as a performer, listener, pianist, and even more as a harpsichord. Soon I also discovered the music of his eldest son Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, which caused some strangeness and great curiosity, sounded somewhat exotic compared to that of other composers of the time, and even that of his father and his most famous brother, Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. ”

These words are from Stella Almeida, pianist of the São Paulo State Symphonic Band, and justify his admiration for the musical legacy left to humanity by the Bach family. In Polonaises e Fantasias, her new work, the artist deals with the music of Friedemann, Johann Sebastian's eldest son and considered for many years an eccentric, difficult and irregular composer, although celebrated as one of the greatest organists of his time.

Looking at Friedemann's 12-Polonaises cycle, the pianist came across musical and technical surprises, such as the fact that this song is hardly played in Brazil and even beyond, motivating her to take this project forward. “I decided to record this important collection of plays and a few more works by Friedemann himself, his father and brother [Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, most recognized for his work among Johann Sebastian's musicians], and contemplating an attractive and meaningful repertoire. 18th century keyboard music, ”he says.

The album brings together the grandest pieces of modern piano designed by the Bach family. On this CD are the Fk 21 Mi Fancy and the Wilhelm Friedemann Bach's Polonaises Fk 12, Johann Sebastian Bach's A Minor Fantasy BWV 922 and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach's C Major Fantasy Wq 59/6.

In the insert, the listener will find a beautiful text entitled "Virtuosity and Sensitivity in the Century of Reason", which contains information about the work and characteristics of these three geniuses of music.

Polonaises e Fantasias further enriches PAULUS's Music and Video catalog, recognized for bringing together works of excellent quality, especially in the classical genre. PAULUS also points out the works Bach and Vivaldi (Perez Dworecki in viola and Paulo Gori on piano), Johann Christian Bach - Organ: Elisa Freixo, Musical Memories - JS Bach, Mozart and Brahms (Perez Dworecki in viola, Achille Picchi, Gilberto Tinetti and Leonardo Righi on piano and Leonardo Righi on clarinet) and Symphonies - Johann Christian Bach.

Stella Almeida is a pianist and harpsichord. He had in his formation important Brazilian and international masters. Active in the dissemination of contemporary Brazilian music, is a pianist of the Symphonic Band of the state of São Paulo. Harpsichord and founding member of the Engenho Baroque Chamber Orchestra, with which he recorded important works from the Brazilian colonial period and European Baroque, has always shown affinity with the music of Bach and his descendants, currently dedicating his doctorate at the University of Campinas to keyboard music. by Wilhelm Friedemann. Maintains chamber formations, such as the trio Canzona and Duo Almeida-Rosa, is a professor at Emesp-Tom Jobim and a collaborating professor at the Souza Lima Conservatory in São Paulo.