Zelenka - Complete Orchestral Works

Das Neu-Eroeffnete Orchestre, Sonnetheil, Jurgen

CPO 999897

Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745) is certainly one of the most idiosyncratic and peculiar composers of the 18th century. Employed as a double bass player in the Dresden chapel all his life, he worked here as a composer in complete silence and seemingly untouched by all the external splendor that surrounded the Dresden court. It was not until 1735 that he was appointed "church composer", and he only spent a short time away from Dresden. His importance as a composer is based not only on his numerous works for Catholic services, but also - or above all - on his not very extensive orchestral music. This consists of five Capricci, which owe their origin to the courtship of the Saxon electoral prince, and several concerti and symphonies.Cpo is now presenting - for the first time on period instruments! - this complete work on CD. Why this authentic complete recording only now, when there has been interest in the originality of the maverick Bohemian for several years? Well, in addition to their highly artificial complexity, the works are technically horrendously difficult, and for a long time natural hornists in particular considered them unplayable. But the newly-opened orchestra under Jürgen Sonnentheil shows that it is possible: it is a real joy!

Works:

•Zelenka: Capriccios Nos. 1-5
•Zelenka: Hipocondrie à 7 concertanti in A major, ZWV187
•Zelenka: Concerto à 8 concertanti in G major, ZWV186
•Zelenka: Sinfonia à 8 concertanti in A minor, ZWV189
•Zelenka: Symphonia in D major
•Zelenka: Suite a 7 concertanti in F major

CD x 3

CPO

10.09.2002

761203989720