Description
Johann Melchior Molter (1696-1765) was born in 1696 in Thuringen, where his musical talent was quickly recognised. He served in the orchestra at the court of Karlsruhe. Later he broadened his horizon by going to Italy, where he encountered Albinoni, Vivaldi and Alessandro Scarlatti. He imbued their melodious gifts, studied their instrumental skills and went home to Karlsruhe, where he spent the rest of his life as court composer. Molter's works are festive and ceremonial, a happy mix of German counterpoint, Italian brilliance and French grandeur. This new recording presents the large-scale Oratorio Hochst schmerzenvoller Tag", written for Good Friday. The work follows the model of the Passion oratorio, which was very popular in Protestant Germany from the beginning of the 18th century. The suffering and death of Christ is not depicted using quotations from the Passion accounts of the New Testament but commented and reflected upon through contemporary poetry. The music is bold and dramatic, expressing the suffering of Christ in moving arias, recitatives and chorales. Performed by Julia Sophie Wagner (soprano), Susanne Langner (alto), Benjamin Glaubitz (tenor), Karsten Muller (bass) and the Ensemble Camerata Bachiensis, playing period instruments.
