Jan Schumacher and Beethoven’s “Missa solemnis”
In the CARUS Highlights, Jan Schumacher writes about Beethoven’s “Missa solemnis”: an oratorio that challenges both, musicians and recipients.
Choral works in focus
Discover more about new, exciting aspects of major choral works such as Bach’s St John Passion or Mozart’s C Minor Mass which have come to light during our editorial work. Or discover some less well-known, but extremely worthwhile compositions to enrich your concert programs.
Through the year with Schütz II
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.
Rilling on the German Requiem by Brahms
In the CARUS Highlights, Helmuth Rilling writes about Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem” (A German Requiem) – a piece he even wrote a book about.
The composer Joseph Martin Kraus
Even if in the last 30 years (since the 200th year of death in 1992) a lot has happened in the matter of Joseph Martin Kraus, not least due to the phenomenal recording of his symphonies by Concerto Köln, Kraus is still an insider tip in the music scene, both in practice and in science.
Frieder Bernius on Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”
In the CARUS Highlights, Frieder Bernius writes on Mendelssohn’s “Elijah”, one of the most popular oratorios of all.
Through the year with Schütz
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.
J. S. Bach: St. John Passion
Bach pulled out everything in his St. John Passion: the orchestra included almost every conceivable instrument in the original version of the piece. His lyricist used very pictorial language. Bach added a sea of musical affects to the powerful language, which in its diversity and complexity is overwhelming and, in the best sense of the word, “theatrical”.
César Franck: “Les Béatitudes”
César Franck regarded his oratorio “Les béatitudes” as his most important work. The first performance of the version with piano accompaniment was given in Franck’s private apartment. But the “real” premiere of the orchestral version with over 250 performers took place only after the composer’s death in 1891 in Dijon. It was an overwhelming success, as was the Paris premiere in March 1893.
Verdi: The Requiem – and what else?
The Messa da Requiem is truly Verdi’s most impressice work, but due to the size of the needed ensemble it can hardly be performed. Besides this milestone, Verdi created only a few other sacred works.
Symphonic principles in Bruckner’s unaccompanied works
Bruckner’s symphonic works are sufficiently covered in the literature. On the other hand, his a cappella choral works eke out a shadowy existence and are usually treated only as by-products. Very wrongly, as choral conductor Jan Schumacher finds, who – also in view of the Bruckner anniversary year 2024 – has dealt with this aspect of the Austrian composer’s oeuvre for his contribution.
