Christophorus Colombus

German Violin Virtuosos of the 17th Century (1999)
Classical | EAC: FLAC+Cue+Log | 1 Cd, Covers | 372 Mb
Label: CHRISTOPHORUS - Date: 1999

Thomas Pietsch (Baroqueviolin) & Bob van Asperen (Harpsichord / Organ)

unites two well known experts of Early Music who since years successfully perform on international stages and who recorded continuously. Outstanding quality of their interpretations which show a wide research of sources are masterly skills, true play within the style and precision…

The young Austrian soprano Miriam Feuersinger presents her debut CD accompanied by the Capricornus Consort Basel with a selection of several cantatas by the Kapellmeister at the Darmstadt court. With the agreeable timbre of her easily appealing voice, she succeeds wonderfully in recreating the appropriate tone of Graupner's sensuous cantata style. As with those of Bach, the cantatas of Graupner aim to stir the listener, but without sacrificing intellectual elegance or even the composure fitting for a predominantly courtly community. Unlike the confidently catchy Telemann, Graupner prefers a refined and subtle elaboration that audibly reckons with skilful interpreters and always seeks to move the listener. Despite all these advantages, the discographical exploration of Graupner's over 1400 cantatas has only just begun.

The 17th century composer Johann Georg Künstel is one of the forgotten persons in history. He lived at Franconia in South East Germany where he is mentioned as a schoolmaster and court organist. But his inclusion in Johann Gottfried Walthers Musicalisches Lexicon of 1732 provides clues about his significance. The St Mark Passion can be considered to be his most significant work; records show that it was frequently performed in Coburg even after the composers death.