The Dutch reed quintet Calefax celebrates 35 years of adventurous and versatile musicianship with a collection of Musical Offerings from Johann Sebastian Bach, arranged by the ensemble’s saxophonist Raaf Hekkema. Arthur Klaassens joins the ensemble on a lupophone and English horn for Musikalisches Opfer, the main course of this programme, as well as for the 14 Canons, BWV 1087, creating a unique blend of wind instruments. The album concludes with Bach’s Canonic Variations on Vom Himmel hoch, BWV 769, a piece full of allusions to Christmas-related Bach pieces, including references to his Christmas Oratorio. Bach’s Musical Offerings is Calefax’ third PENTATONE release, after the well-received Dido & Aeneazz (2019), a virtuosic and eclectic recomposition of Purcell’s famous opera performed with trumpetist Eric Vloeimans, as well as Hidden Gems (2018), showcasing the quintet’s versatility with pieces ranging from Corelli and Satie to Nina Simone.

REVIEW:

For those who are intrigued by different readings of Bach’s masterpiece, this is one of the most piquant and unusual, with the composer’s matchless counterpoint given the closest possible attention The Dutch reed quintet’s take on Bach, arranged by the ensemble’s saxophonist Raaf Hekkema. Arthur Klaassens further expands the ensemble’s sonic palette by joining them on lupophone and cor anglaise for Musikalisches Opfer, the main course of this programme, as well as for 14 Canons, BWV 1087. The album concludes with Bach’s Canonic variations on Von Himmel hoch. All nine known versions of the melody have found a place in Raaf’s arrangement, resulting in a many-coloured Christmas collage.

-- Classical CD Choice (Barry Forshaw)