2012 Harmonia

The year 2012 marks the tercentenary of the birth of Frederick the Great, whose political and military glory has often relegated his musical talent to the status of a mere hobby. But Frederick II was not only the key personality of Berlin musical life for the whole of the 18th century – as is shown by the works of the composers presented on this CD, all of whom worked at his court at some point in their careers – but also an excellent flautist who left posterity a number of fine flute sonatas from his own pen.

Der heute leider weitgehend unbekannte flämische Komponist Jacob Clement alias Clemens non Papa (circa 1510 bis 1515 - 1555) war neben Palästrina und Orlando di Lasso einer der führenden Vertreter der Renaissance. Einerseits wurde er für seine geistlichen Werke bei seinen Auftraggebern und Kollegen sehr hoch geschätzt, andererseits eilte ihm der Ruf des Lebemannes voraus, der weltlichen Freuden und Genüssen nicht gerade abgeneigt war. Vielleicht ist es diese Lebenserfahrung und Inspiration, die ihn auch zu einem hervorragenden Komponisten von Chansons und weltlichen Liedern gemacht hat. Seine auffällig virtuose Beherrschung des Kontrapunktes steht in jedem Fall außer Frage.

In January 2012, the nestor of early music in the Netherlands died: Gustav Leonhardt. Together with Harnoncourt he belonged to the pioneers of authentic performance practice. Leonhardt was a gentleman at the keyboard. His aristocratic mastery of the French harpsichordists alone, with all those complex decorations and declamations, was unrivaled. And yet he regarded Bach as the greatest composer ever. 'His music is incredibly versatile, interesting, intelligent. (…) What is the secret? If only we would know that! ', According to Gustav Leonhardt in an interview with the Reformatorisch Dagblad. This reissue, undoubtedly inspired by the publicity surrounding Leonhard's death, includes performances by Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Die Kunst Der Fuge and the Goldberg Variationen.

The Eton Choirbook is a richly illuminated manuscript collection of English sacred music composed during the late fifteenth century. The Huelgas Ensemble, known for their splendid interpretations, selected five astonishing works which were never recorded before. Founded by Paul Van Nevel in 1970, the Huelgas Ensemble soon specialized in the music of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, drawing closely on primary sources and making a vital contribution to the study of early music through its published research. The Ensemble's performances are informed by a profound understanding of medieval and Renaissance vocal techniques and practices.

Little is known about the Italian Antonio Brioschi (ca. 1700-ca. 1750), other than he was a prolific composer. With about fifty symphonies to his credit, he apparently was active near Milan during the same time as Giovanni Sammartini. During his lifetime, his popularity was widespread as copies of his instrumental works can be found in libraries from Moscow to the United States, with about half of his symphonic output neatly preserved in the Parisian `Bibliotheque nationale de France'.

Mozart places melody at the very heart of his concertos. Introverted and sometimes uncertain at the start of K453, it is subsequently transmuted into birdsong - foreshadowing Papageno - and leads to a finale worthy of an Opera buffa. Imbued with majesty in K482 (contemporary with Le nozze di Figaro), it takes on a tinge of bitterness in the work's slow movement, before returning to more joyful melodic motifs, one of which will recur in Cosi fan tutte. Never have opera and concerto been so close. Partnering with the Freiburger Barockorchester, acclaimed forte pianist Kristian Bezuidenhout brings out all of the singing lines and sparkling bravura of these two great concertos.

Das renommierte Berliner Barockensemble Lautten Compagney feiert 2009 sein 25-jähriges Bestehen. Mit seinem neuesten Programm "Handel With Care" feiert es aber vor allem den großen Komponisten Georg Friedrich Händel anlässlich dessen 250. Todesjahres. Viele Melodien aus Händels Arien und Chören waren bereits zu Lebzeiten des Komponisten regelrechte Schlager. Wolfgang Katschner, der 2004 mit dem Händelpreis ausgezeichnet wurde und seine Lautten Compagney haben unter dem Motto "Instrumente singen" für "Handel With Care" ihre Lieblingsarien aus Opern und Oratorien wie "Rinaldo", "Tamerlano", "Samson" u.v.a. für Soloinstrumente und wechselnde Instrumentalbesetzung neu arrangiert.

Composed during the final weeks of Schubert's life, the Quintet in C major for two violins, viola and two cellos ranks among his greatest accomplishments. Schubert's decision to use a second cello (rather than the second viola as in Mozart's quintets) adds to the overall richness of the piece and gives it a darker, more melancholy timbre. In its day, Schubert's Quintet was truly a revolutionary work. It is truly symphonic in scope, with 'orchestration' that mimics motifs characteristics of writing for winds and brass. This new recording from the Arcanto Quartet and cellist Olivier Marron (2004 first prize winner at the international Johann Sebastian Bach competition in Leipzig, Germany) illuminates the colors and decodes the complexities of this timeless masterpiece.