Schola Heidelberg – Parole e Testi

Experimental vocal and instrumental compositions from the second half of the previous century, closely connected in text and thought with Italian poetry, convey an impression of the philosophy and compositional methods of the two musicians Luigi Nono (1924-1990) and Salvatore Sciarrino (b. 1947), which were similar in several aspects. The title of the CD, Parole e Testi, is thus meant quite literally. „Schola Heidelberg – Parole e Testi“ weiterlesen

Kazakh State String Quartet – Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Streichquartette Nr. 2 & 3

At the age of 18, Felix Mendelssohn composed his String Quartet Op. 13, one of his major early works. The fact that it was written after Beethoven’s death reveals a wealth of references: the youthful master experimented blithely with form and content. The Quartet also has an autobiographical component going back to the song “Frage” (“Question”), the beginning of which (underlaid with the question “Ist es wahr?” – “Is it true?”) provides the motto of the first movement and returns toward the end of the finale – a very personal message from Mendelssohn. „Kazakh State String Quartet – Mendelssohn Bartholdy: Streichquartette Nr. 2 & 3“ weiterlesen

La Morte Del Cor Penitente

In 1996, the complete recording of the oratorio La morte del cor penitente (The Death of the Penitent Heart), composed around 1671, by the Northern Italian Early-Music ensemble Sonatori de la Gioiosa Marca was a special event: for the first time, the Italian composer Giovanni Legrenzi (1626-1690) – an important creator of sacred and chamber music – was introduced with a voluminous work. „La Morte Del Cor Penitente“ weiterlesen

New Release: Mikolaj Zielenski – Rosarium Virginis Mariae Hybrid SACD

The „Rosary Prayer“ – notably the most important, best-known and most widespread popular prayer of the Catholic Church – has circulated already in the Middle Ages in Europe and inspired the greatest artists to create works that are admired to this day (Albrecht Dürer, Heinrich Biber). We are very proud that with this production a small „treasure“ on this topic is finally lifted. Pope Pius V had formally established how to pray the Marian Rosary in a 1569 bull; it can be assumed that Zielenski – at that time already born – therefore followed this order: more…