The Sound Of Cultures, Vol. 2, Baroque Hungary

Fux, Johann Joseph, Haydn, Joseph, Schmelzer, Johann Heinrich, Speer, Georg Daniel, Werner, Gregor Joseph

Ars Antiqua Austria, Letzbor, Gunar

SY 02198

This recording focuses on the Hungarian tradition in Austrian music. It's a rich tradition, flavored by Turkish style (quite the rage in the eighteenth-century) and Hungarian gypsy music. Familiar Austrian composers are well-represented-Franz Josef Haydn, Johann Josef Fux and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer - and they are brilliantly complimented by the music of the obscure Hungarian nobleman/composer Pál Esterházy (1635-1713) and a set of anonymous Hungarian dances.
The set of eighteenth-century Hungarian dances that open the recording are dazzlers. At times elegant, at other times raucous, the string players of Ars Antiqua Austria put on quite a show, particularly in the fiery final dance that works itself up into a frenzy.
In stark contrast to this gypsy whirlwind is Gregor Joseph Werner's (1693-1766) dulcet Alma redemptoris mater, sweetly sung by soprano Noemi Kiss. The outer movements of Fux's Sinfonia a 3 take us back to the world of the noisy and exotic Turks and Hungarians, while the middle movement is an eloquent Passa Gallia. The happiest surprises are Esterházy's charming vocal works, which include the gentle Christmas song Jesu parve and the vocally challenging Ave, dulcis Virgo. Kiss is excellent and makes me hope that these performers will resurrect more of Esterházy's vocal music.
This recording triumphs on every level Ars Antiqua Austria and its director/violinist Gunar Letzbor are excellent throughout, bringing a nice sense of polish to the Austrian works and dashing just the right amount of spicy paprika onto the rhythmically propulsive works. • Craig Zeiche

CD x 1

Symphonia

3.02.2003

8012783021983