CONCERTO KöLN (COK)
Sinfonien

French Symphonies

With this recording, Concerto Köln, famous for their sensational repertoire discoveries, rescue the composer Henri-Joseph Rigel's French symphonies from undeserved obscurity.
In many ways these works reflect a revolutionary era when a lively concert-going scene grew up among the bourgeoisie, despite the turmoil.
Rigel, who moved to Paris from Germany in 1767, played a significant part in the pre-Revolutionary Concert Spirituel, giving the style of the time a new angle, which was very well received by Parisian audiences. Hearing his symphonies performed with the excitement we have come to expect from Concerto Köln it seems almost inconceivable that this music is all but unknown today. Particularly astounding is the huge variety of moods and colours, far removed from a slavish observance of conventional forms. Concerto Köln conveys Rigel's creativity with inimitable persuasiveness, presenting for discussion what is in every sense a fresh addition to the repertoire.