WIENER AKADEMIE: Sacred Works

Ferdinand III, Emperor, Joseph I of Austria, Emperor

Bästlein, Ulf, Cordier, David, Fink, Marcos, Haselböck, Martin, Kleinlein, Achim, Perillo, Linda, Voss, Henning, Waschinski, Jörg, Wiener Akademie

CPO 999681

Hardly any other ruling dynasty has produced potentates who compose at such a high level as the House of Habsburg - no wonder, really, since they presided over what is perhaps the most musical country in the world: Austria. The beginning was made by Emperor Ferdinand III (1608-1657). Through his teacher Giovanni Valentini he was familiarized above all with the Italian music of his time, and with musicians such as Monteverdi he was on friendly collegial terms. Even during his lifetime he was praised as an outstanding musician. His son Leopold I (1640-1705) continued the tradition of his father. He was a pupil of Bertali and mastered several instruments in addition to the harpsichord. He was probably the most productive and versatile of the composing emperors. 69 compositions by him have been preserved. His son in turn was Joseph I (1678-1711), whose great musical talent is already attested to by appointed contemporaries. Unfortunately, only relatively few works by him have survived, which are stylistically already under the influence of Alessandro Scarlatti. In our series "Musica Imperialis" Martin Haselböck has now documented a wonderful selection from the imperial oeuvre with his Vienna Academy and soloists such as Linda Perillo, Jörg Waschinski, David Cordier and Henning Voss.

Works:

•Ferdinand III: Deus Tuorum a 4
•Ferdinand III: Humanae Salutis a 8
•Ferdinand III: Jesu Redemptor omnium
•Joseph I: Regina coeli
•Leopold I: Laudate Pueri
•Leopold I: Sonata piena
•Schmelzer: Lamento sopra la morte di Ferdinand III

CD x 1

CPO

11/21/02

761203968121