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.
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 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.
Charpentier’s substantial œuvre is distinguished by its remarkably high level of quality, and furthermore by a special beauty of a very humble and unpretentious kind that certainly could have made some of his contemporaries jealous.
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.
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.
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.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s secular cantatas provide an exciting insight into his activities between city and court, between the beginning of the Enlightenment and absolutism. Activities which probably characterized a successful life back then, but seem slightly strange to us now, perhaps even disconcerting. Uwe Wolf has researched the circumstances surrounding the composition of Bach’s wonderful Hunting Cantata, and went on the trail of Bach in Weissenfels. Come along with us!
Although George Frideric Handel was born in 1685 in Halle an der Saale, he is now admired above all as an English composer. But he was a cosmopolitan. He travelled with enthusiasm throughout Europe and lived in several different cities. In 1710, he moved to London. Here he devoted himself first and foremost to studying the English language, music, and culture – but he also composed constantly and very successfully. But read for yourself!
Frieder Bernius’ very first radio recording and his second LP recording in the mid-1970s were devoted to Mendelssohn’s works. So he was as enthusiastic about the idea of a complete recording as he is gripped by almost every measure of this composer’s work.
