Ensemble Polyharmonique; Wroclaw Baroque Orchestra
Description
In the 18th century, Dresden developed into a magnificent baroque residence, which was soon given the nickname "Florence on the Elbe".
Music played a special role in the representation of political power, and the "Dresden Court Orchestra" was famous throughout Europe.
Dresden court life was Protestant in character, despite the politically motivated conversion of Elector August "the Strong" and his son, Elector Prince Friedrich August II, to the Catholic faith.
This changed with the marriage of the Elector Prince to the strictly Catholic daughter of Emperor Joseph I, Maria Josepha.
A new court had to be established and Catholic church music had to be built up along the lines of the Viennese imperial court. From then on, the Protestant court conductor Johann David Heinichen had to write splendid church music.
The "Vespers for the Feast of St. Xavier" honoured the favourite saint of the new Electress, who appointed him special patron saint for Dresden. Heinichen's magnificent setting, available here as a premiere recording, once again demonstrates the importance of Dresden court music in this period.
Tracklisting
Aco Biscevic, Michael Hofstetter, Barockorchester der Thuringen Philharmonie Gotha-Eisenach
Soloists; Les Traversees Baroques; Meyer
Luigi De Donato; Collegium 1704; Vaclav Luks
Ars Antiqua Austria; Gunar Letzbor
Sigiswald Kuijken; La Petite Band
Sigiswald Kuijken
Il Gardellino
Jean-Francois Madeuf; Julian Zimmermann; Barbara Konrad; The Rossetti Players
Oslo Kammerkor, Hakon Daniel Nystedt
Hans-Christoph Rademann, NDR Chor Hamburg
Chorwerk Ruhr, Florian Helgath
BachWerkVokal, Gordon Safari
Dionysos Now!
Soloists; Les Traversees Baroques; Meyer
The Gesualdo Six / Owain Park
La Compagnia del Madrigale
