Classic CD: Outstanding. These early Berlin concertos reveal a composer standing between inheritance and innovation. Written soon after his arrival at the Prussian court, the works reflect a growing fascination with the elegant, Italian-influenced galant style while still retaining the contrapuntal awareness inherited from his father’s musical world. Graceful melodies, buoyant dance rhythms, and lucid textures create an atmosphere of lightness and refinement, yet beneath the surface lies a subtle exploration of character and contrast. Across the concertos, the relationship between solo keyboard and strings evolves in striking ways. At times the ensemble and soloist move together with seamless cooperation; elsewhere the keyboard asserts a more individual voice, answering the orchestra with virtuoso figuration, lyrical cantabile lines, or improvisatory freedom in the slow movements. Particularly expressive are the central movements, where the solo instrument unfolds with a sense of spontaneity and intimate reflection before rejoining the ensemble in lively finales shaped by wit and rhythmic vitality. Performed on a richly resonant harpsichord and informed by careful study of historical sources, the interpretation highlights both the clarity and expressive flexibility of this repertoire, illuminating the imaginative spirit that made these works a vital step in the evolution of the keyboard concerto.