In 1720, Johann David Heinichen was rehearsing his latest opera in Dresden. The lead castrato pitched a fit. He tore up the music and hurled the pieces at Heinichen’s feet. That incident was all the excuse King Augustus the Strong needed. He dismissed his temperamental — and very expensive — singers. It effectively ended Italian […]
Accent
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French Music for the Bassoon — a varied and satisfying collection
If you get this release, be sure to read the liner notes. They explain the origin of the bassoon from the Rennaissance curtal. These two double-reed low-register instruments existed side-by-side for almost a century. Only in the 1700’s did the bassoon finally supplanted the curtal completely. And that’s the era featured in this recording. This […]
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Missa 1724 — bold interpretation of Jan Dismas Zelenka
The “Missa 1724” is actually an assemblage of various sacred works by Jan Dismas Zelenka. But to be fair, they all come from the same general period of Zelenka’s career, and they do make a convincing whole. The Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei, ZWV 26 recycles some previous material (some only a year older than […]
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Das neugeborne Kindelein – Baroque Cantatas for the Season
This release presents Christmas cantatas from three German Baroque masters: Dieterich Buxtehude, Georg Philipp Telemann, and Johann Sebastian Bach. All three wrote cantatas for each Sunday of the Liturgical calendar. Buxtehude was of the generation before Telemann and Bach and was a model to the younger composers. His cantata Das neugeborne Kindelein opens the program. It’s […]
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Exceptional performances of Graupner cantatas
This release features three cantatas and two overtures by Christoph Graupner. Graupner was a contemporary of Bach, Handel, and Telemann, and their near-equal in talent. He spent most of his career at the court of Hesse-Darmstadt, composing over 1,400 works. The three cantatas on this release are early works, written between 1714 and 1725. Graupner […]
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Collegium 1704 Joyfully Performs Myslivecek Concertos and Symphonies
One of the most prominent composers in 18th Century Italy was Czech composer Josef Myslivecek. From about 1763 through 1781 he produced 26 operas, several oratorios, over 50 symphonies, and several violin concertos. He was also a close family friend to the Mozarts — Leopold and Wolfgang. The younger Mozart admired Myslivecek’s music. Some scholars […]
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Molter Concertos for Natural Trumpets and Horns Present Challenges
Not everyone’s a fan of original instrumental performances. I am — especially when they’re done well. This release features Jean- François Madeuf performing Molter concertos with a natural trumpet and natural horn. And the results gave me a new appreciation for this under-appreciated composer. And real appreciation for Madeuf’s technical prowess. Modern trumpets and f horns […]