Gunar Letzbor; Ars Antiqua Austria; Salzburg Lute Consort
Release Date: 10 February 2023
Label: Pan Classics
Packaging Type: Jewel Case
No of Units: 1
Barcode: 7619990104440
Description
In music, "ostinato" (Latin obstinatus: "obstinate") is a repeated sequence of notes. A constantly repeated bass motif is perfect for improvisation - which in turn inspired many Baroque composers to write numerous masterpieces. Gunar Letzbor has put together a splendid programme from this fund of pieces, including the well-known Ciaconnas by Bertali and Schmelzer and two ostinato-dominated sonatas by the violin virtuoso Biber, but also works by lesser-known composers such as Georg Arnold, Heinrich Döbel and Johann Josef Vilsmayr.
In the question of the continuo instrumentation, the Ensemble Ars Antiqua Austria breaks new ground: according to new research, the magnificent Salzburg court, where Biber was Kapellmeister, had a special continuo accompaniment: for this magnificent instrumentation with lute, chitarra attiorba and colachone, the ensemble had the instruments specially reconstructed and now lets the "Salzburg lute continuo" be heard again on this recording.
Ars Antiqua Austria was founded in Linz in 1989 with the aim of introducing audiences to the roots of specifically Austrian baroque music played on period-instruments. The core of Ars Antiqua Austria comprises 8 musicians directed by Gunar Letzbor. The ensemble is readily augmented to accommodate a still wider repertoire. Recent tours have taken the ensemble to the Festival de la Musique Baroque at Ribeauville; Berlin Festival of Ancient Music; Festival Printemps des Arts at Nantes; Mozartfest at Würzburg with an opera production together with Michael Schopper; Tage alter Musik at Herne; Festival de Musique de Clisson et de Loire Atlantique amongst many.
Tracklisting
Soloists, Chor und Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele, Joseph Keilberth
The Royal Wind Music
Anita Cerquetti
Tercia Realidad; Jorge Jimenez
Thomas Sanderling, Orchester des Nationaltheaters Mannheim
Soloists; Eroica Berlin; Jakob Lehmann
Leonor de Lera; Nacho Laguna; Pablo FitzGerald
Iskrena Yordanova; Zefira Valova
Arianna Art Ensemble
Steven Isserlis
Marie Stockmarr Becker & Ilaria Macedonio
Paolo Pandolfo
Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell
Apollo's Fire; Jeannette Sorrell
Altberg Ensemble, Jorg-Andreas Botticher
Musica Temprana
