Robert King: The King's Consort
Release Date: 01 March 2003
Label: Hyperion Records Ltd
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 034571173504
Description
Continuing their acclaimed series of 'Bach's Contemporaries', The King's Consort and Robert King turn their attention to the astonishing sacred music of the remarkable Bohemian composer Jan Dismas Zelenka.
Colourful, complex, ornate, idiosyncratic, old-fashioned yet simultaneously forward-looking, Zelenka's music never ceases to amaze. This recording presents wonderfully varied and individual works. Two are substantial choral pieces: the Litaniae de Venerabili Sacramento shows Zelenka's more conventional, old-fashioned style of writing, yet the splendidly individual Invitatorium 'Regem, cui omnia vivunt' gives a powerful impression of Zelenka’s choral style in a unique fusion of modern, dramatic gestures of harmony, dynamics and scoring. Also part of the same Officium defunctorum were the three Lessons, which Zelenka scored for chamber forces. Here, instrumental colour in all its variety is to the fore, with the desolate texts enhanced by rare orchestral sounds including the soprano chalumeau, recorders and even muted oboes. Quirky in its orchestration too is the setting for soprano of Salve regina in A minor where Zelenka's accompaniment is shared by concertante flute, oboe, violin and a larger ensemble in a substantial solo motet, gloriously sung by Carolyn Sampson. The final work too is a delight, with the vocal scoring of Regina caeli laetare reserved for three upper voices who sing in true 'close harmony'.
Tracklisting
Roberto Prosseda, London Philharmonic Orchestra / Nir Kabaretti
The Brabant Ensemble / Stephen Rice
Steven Isserlis
The Nash Ensemble
MultiPiano Ensemble, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin / Ivor Bolton
Marc-Andre Hamelin
Marc-Andre Hamelin, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra / Andrew Litton
Gothic Voices / Christopher Page
Robert King: The King's Consort
Robert King: The King's Consort, New College Choir Oxford
Robert King: The King's Consort, King's Consort Choir
Robert King: The King's Consort, King's Consort Choir
Robert King: The King's Consort, King's Consort Choir
Robert King: The King's Consort, King's Consort Choir
Robert King: The King's Consort, New College Choir Oxford
Robert King: The King's Consort
