On November 16, 1672, the electoral conductor Heinrich Schütz died in Dresden at a very old age. The 350th anniversary of his death in 2022 gives us the opportunity to remember one of the most important and groundbreaking composers in our musical history.
On November 16, 1672, the electoral conductor Heinrich Schütz died in Dresden at a very old age. The 350th anniversary of his death in 2022 gives us the opportunity to remember one of the most important and groundbreaking composers in our musical history.
On November 16, 1672, the electoral conductor Heinrich Schütz died in Dresden at a very old age. The 350th anniversary of his death in 2022 gives us the opportunity to remember one of the most important and groundbreaking composers in our musical history.
Heinrich Schütz is regarded as the first German musician of European stature. Carus has recorded his complete works on CD in 20 parts on 28 discs. The complete recording in one Box was issued this year. The guiding spirit of this project is Hans-Christoph Rademann, founder and conductor of the Dresden Chamber Choir, joined by vocal soloists and instrumentalists.
At a time of great changes in which the uncertain, the unpredictable, indeed, even the unsettling can become the new normal, it is the psalms in particular which can offer comfort, confidence, and hope – not only for believers, but also for people who have little or no faith.
A drama of faith in music, in the face of death, for Schütz composed by “dramatising” the text. All in all, these Exequien are a work of mourning and comfort – Baroque music which continues to speak to Meinrad Walter, professor of theology and liturgy at the Freiburg Musikhochschule, today in its emotion-laden urgency and its magnificent interpretation of the Bible.
Which work offers more than this? Claudio Monteverdi, who died shortly before the publication of the collection, would probably have been astonished about this congenial “German” adaptation of the seconda prattica. From the collection, which Schütz compiled over many years, each work has become so dear to the heart of Frieder Bernius that he is spoilt for choice if he has to select just one.
Cornelius Hauptmann has a busy international career as a concert and opera singer. His special love is for the German lieder repertoire. He initiated the LIEDERPROJEKT, a charitable project to support singing with children, which celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2019.
Every month a member of the Carus team introduces his/her favorite work, whether it be a choral piece, a CD, a songbook or an instrumental work. The recommendation for August 2019 was contributed by Iris Pfeiffer.
The works by Schütz which Werner Breig most admires include the sacred concerto “Sei gegrüßet, Maria”. Schütz undoubtedly entered the Scuola Grande di San Rocco in Venice countless times, and anyone who entered it immediately saw Jacopo Tintoretto’s painting of the Annunciation. Did this image have a lasting impression on Schütz and his composition?
For Hans-Christoph Rademann the motet “Ich bin ein rechter Weinstock” from Geistliche Chor-Music 1648 is one of the most beautiful compositions by Heinrich Schütz. This motet teaches you how to see with your ears and listen with your eyes in a way that hardly any other musical piece can…
Under the overall musical direction of Hans-Christoph Rademann, the Dresdner Kammerchor and Carus have concluded the first Heinrich Schütz Complete Recording. This month sees the release of the last CD in the Complete Recording.
