Dresden Vespers
World premiere recording of works by Johann David Heinichen, active in the 17th century at the Saxon-Polish court in Dresden. The result of excellent collaboration between Ensemble Polyharmonique and Wrocław Baroque Orchestra conducted by Jarosław Thiel.
Date of release: February 4, 2022
Publisher: Accent
Conductor: Jarosław Thiel
Performers: Ensemble Polyharmonique, Wrocław Baroque Orchestra
How did a Protestant pastor’s son come to compose and perform music in honour of a Catholic saint, more precisely, in honour of the 16th century founder of the Catholic World Mission? Such a phenomenon occurred in the 1720s at the Saxon-Polish court in Dresden, at a time when conflicts between the denominations had only been provisionally stilled, and tended to flare up whenever an opportunity arose. An introduction to the music recorded on this CD can therefore not be limited to the usual “life and work” format; the compositions, recorded here for the first time, reflect not only their musical, historical and personal constellations, but also the religious and political situation of the time. Their (pre)history stems from several origins, entwined in a web of internal and external conditions.
Gerhard Poppe
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-X1vkV4kMlU
Awards: Nomination for International Classical Music Awards 2023