Label Praga

Valerius Otto - Prague Dances 1611 - Antiquarius Consort Praga
Classical | 1 CD | EAC | FLAC, CUE, LOG | Scans | 290 MB | Rapidshare
Recorded: May 1998, Sv. Michal, V Jirchářich, Praha | Released: 1990 | Label: Arta F1 0088 | TT: 54:32
Antiquarius Consort Praga - Václav Návrat

The musician and composer Valerius Otto [1579-c. 1612] was born … in Leipzig to a family of a teacher employed at the local church of St Thomas. All we know about his life is gleaned from a few period sources. … In the spring of 1609 Otto received an "author's" fee from the Leipzig town council for a composition he had written for them. He doubtless began composing before this time, however. As a musician he entered the services of Georg Ludwig von Leuchtenberg. In the introduction to his printed collection Newe Paduanen, Galliarden, Intraden und Currenten, Nach Englischer und Frantzösischer Art, the only surviving and complete collection of his works containing a total of 62 compositions for five voices, published in Leipzig in 1611, Valerius Otto introduces himself as an "organist in the Prague Old Town, at the Church of Our Lady before Tyn". (CD-booklet)

Es sind vor allem der Dirigent Domenico Sanfilippo und das außerordentlich stilsicher spielende Kammerorchester der Pra- ger Oper, die Cimarosa immer einfallsreiche, geistvolle Musik so himmlisch frisch und un- verbraucht erklingen lassen.

Donizetti began writing his Requiem Mass after the death of fellow composer and friend Bellini. Ironically it was not performed until after Donizetti's death in 1848. Lacking a 'Sanctus', 'Benedictus' and 'Agnus Dei', the work is nevertheless a large-scale, powerful and compelling work which is one of Donizetti's most important non-operatic compositions.

Spanish Songs of the 16th century A genuine potpourri of different songs and languages always following the notion of “docere et delectare” (to instruct while giving pleasure), the famous Ensaladas of Fletxa, Carceres, Vila and Chacon constitute a unique genre in 16th century Spanish literature and music. They are certainly related to the French ‘fricassée’ and the Italian madrigal comedy, and sometimes pay tribute to Janequin. The genre delighted listeners throughout the 16th century with its depictions of the eternal struggle between good and evil, portraying such varied characters as Lucifer, the virgin Mary, rustic shepherds, shipwrecked pilgrims, Adam and the ancient prophets.

The Guarneri Trio Prague, belongs to the most renowned piano trios in the world of classical music. Founded by Ivan Klanský, Čeněk Pavlík and Marek Jerie, the Trio drew with its artistically spectacluar performances the attention of the international press early in its carreer. The Trio has been playing since 1986 in in the same line-up.

The composer of Julietta left seven string quartets that do not, by any means, form a cycle but rather a succession of testimonies stretching from 1920 to 1947. This second volume – the first is on PRAGA 250 205 - juxtaposed the French Quartet (No. 1), a lengthy and luxurious, homage to Debussy and Dvorak, the shortest (No.3) ‘pocket’ Quartet and the Sixth written in the post-war utopia, a fantastic counterpoint of madrigals for strings with astonishing polymelodicism, introduction da camera to last Symphony No. 6 (Symphonic Fantasies, 1951-53), with his earnest, struggling character and high symphonic spirit.