Orkiestra Taneczna

"As a piece from an opera" was the intention of the Protestant theologian and poet Erdmann Neumeister (1671-1756) in his Geistliche Cantaten (Sacred Cantatas), which he first published in 1702. No wonder that several composers of sacred music jumped at the chance to use his texts to fulfil their duties. The varied structure of the poetry, some of which rhymes quite drastically, lends itself well to musical settings, in which recitatives, arias, choruses and chorales alternate quite easily. As such, devout congregations could be presented with theological subjects in a non-ascetic manner.

"As a piece from an opera" was the intention of the Protestant theologian and poet Erdmann Neumeister (1671-1756) in his Geistliche Cantaten (Sacred Cantatas), which he first published in 1702. No wonder that several composers of sacred music jumped at the chance to use his texts to fulfil their duties. The varied structure of the poetry, some of which rhymes quite drastically, lends itself well to musical settings, in which recitatives, arias, choruses and chorales alternate quite easily. As such, devout congregations could be presented with theological subjects in a non-ascetic manner.

"As a piece from an opera" was the intention of the Protestant theologian and poet Erdmann Neumeister (1671-1756) in his Geistliche Cantaten (Sacred Cantatas), which he first published in 1702. No wonder that several composers of sacred music jumped at the chance to use his texts to fulfil their duties. The varied structure of the poetry, some of which rhymes quite drastically, lends itself well to musical settings, in which recitatives, arias, choruses and chorales alternate quite easily. As such, devout congregations could be presented with theological subjects in a non-ascetic manner.

On his second album for Sony Classical, set to be released on April 12, violinist Luka Faulisi presents a highly individual interpretation of Vivaldi’s pioneering masterpiece, The Four Seasons.

The years 1681-1767 constitute the frame of Telemann’s lifetime. He was an outstanding German composer who lived and worked in the late Baroque – the same age as the masters Bach and Händel. Although nowadays his famous contemporaries often overshadow him, in his lifetime he was known as one of the most productive and versatile musicians. After centuries of neglect, his character and creativity seem to be winning that respect once again.

On his second album for Sony Classical violinist Luka Faulisi presents a highly individual interpretation of Vivaldi's pioneering masterpiece, 'The Four Seasons'. The violinist's cinematic approach to 'The Four Seasons' involved encouraging members of the orchestra to engage with the composer's onomatopoeic animal and nature sounds and adding percussion not found in the original scores. Faulisi has also opted to splice Vivaldi's concertos with three complementary works inspired by the seasons: a traditional Catalan melody made famous by Pablo Casals, 'El cant dels ocells'; the haunting 'Nocturne' by Lili Boulanger; and an excerpt from Tchaikovsky's 'The Seasons', 'October - Autumn Song', a piece of understated romanticism inspired by Tolstoy.

On his second album for Sony Classical violinist Luka Faulisi presents a highly individual interpretation of Vivaldi's pioneering masterpiece, 'The Four Seasons'. The violinist's cinematic approach to 'The Four Seasons' involved encouraging members of the orchestra to engage with the composer's onomatopoeic animal and nature sounds and adding percussion not found in the original scores. Faulisi has also opted to splice Vivaldi's concertos with three complementary works inspired by the seasons: a traditional Catalan melody made famous by Pablo Casals, 'El cant dels ocells'; the haunting 'Nocturne' by Lili Boulanger; and an excerpt from Tchaikovsky's 'The Seasons', 'October - Autumn Song', a piece of understated romanticism inspired by Tolstoy.

Unlike today, neither George Frideric Handel nor Antonio Vivaldi was the most famous and most performed opera composer in the first third of the 18th century, but rather Leonardo Vinci (ca. 1696-1730). Educated in Naples, he was successful there from 1719, initially with several operas buffe before he turned to the more prestigious opera seria in 1722 with immediate success. As one of the most important representatives of the Neapolitan School, he left his mark on the Italian and soon also the European opera scene. Even Handel in faraway London could not avoid his music: in order to satisfy the public's taste, he put several pasticcios with their arias on the repertoire of his failing opera company. In 1730 Vinci died suddenly after colicky pains, and it was soon rumored that he had been the victim of a poison attack.