Brandenburgs are a staple for "classical" orchestras, but remember it is a BAROQUE composition. A lot depends on the execution:
- Harpsicord should be used, but sometimes the dreaded piano is substituted. Harpsichord (and lute/theorbo) are part of the rhythmic section (aka basso continuo, akin the drum kit in a rock concert). The sharp attack of the plucked harpsichord helps with that, while the smeared sound of a piano obfuscates this key function.
- Authentic strings are played on gut strings and at 415 Hz, but very few orchestras do so. Gut strings have a completely different sound to modern synthetic ones.
- Playing technique in classical orchestras uses vibrato as a sauce, while in proper execution it is an ornament (rank 13 according to Bach). The main ornament are variations on the trill, so listen for variety of trills used (starting on upper/lower note, speed, acceleration or not, ending in a turn or not). Those are not written into the music and are improvised to taste by the musician.
- If you are lucky enough to hear a period orchestra perform it, they will also use a baroque bow (outward curved, not inward as in the classical Tourte bow), which helps with note shaping/messa di voce critical for baroque music to shine. How much that is smeared by the typically reverb-heavy acoustics of a church is an entirely different question. Brandenburgs are rather a da camera piece (to be played in a room), not da chiesa (church music). Accordingly, playing Brandenburgs in a church is a questionable choice.
- Lute/theorbo is typically too quiet for large venues such as 500 seat church, and has to be amplified. (frequently also the harpsichord(s).
- Repeats are elaborated, but elaborations are not written out. So listen for the type and artistry of the elaboration on the second pass.
Baroque music frequently gets a bad wrap ("acquired taste"). That stems mainly from the mostly poor execution (piano/harpsichord, vibrato sauce, etc.). I heard once a Haydn performance where the keyboardist for one used a piano, and played the bass line (aka figured bass) as single notes, not realizing that a chord is tastefully improvised in Baroque music. I hope you will hear a good performance.