Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Judith Howarth, Janice Watson, Jean Rigby, John Mark Ainsley, José Van Dam, Corydon Singers
Orchestra: Corydon Orchestra
Conductor: Matthew Best
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Hyperion
Catalogue: CDA66880
Release: 1997
Size: 276 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II, WoO 87
01. No. 1, Chorus. Todt, stöhnt es durch die öde Nacht!
02. No. 2, Recit. Ein Ungeheuer, sein Name Fanatismus
03. No. 3, Aria. Da kam Joseph, mit Gottes Stärke
04. No. 4, Aria and Chorus. Da stiegen die Menschen an’s Licht
05. No. 5, Recit. Er schläft von den Sorgen seiner Welten entladen
06. No. 6, Aria. Hier schlummert seinen stillen Frieden
07. No. 7, Chorus. Todt, stöhnt es durch die öde Nacht!
Cantata on the Accession of Emperor Leopold II, WoO 88
08. No. 1, Recit. and Chorus. Er schlummert
09. No. 2, Aria. Fliesse, Wonnezähre, fliesse!
10. No. 3, Recit. Ihr staunt, Völker der Erde!
11. No. 4, Recit. Wie bebt mein Herz vor Wonne! – No. 5, Trio. Ihr, die Joseph ihren Vater nannten
12. No. 6. Chorus. Heil! Stürzet nieder, Millionen
13. Opferlied, Op. 121b
14. Meeresstille und Glückliche Fahrt, Op. 112
This second disc of Beethoven choral works from the Corydon Singers and Matthew Best features two rarely performed and fascinating early works, the Cantatas written around 1790 to mark the death of Joseph II and the accession of his brother Leopold II. Both pieces are full of dramatic action and forthright representation of mood, and the Joseph Cantata can quite legitimately be counted one of the composers most important early works, displaying remarkable maturity for a nineteen-year-old composer. Also included are the composers homage to Goethe, Meeresstille und Glckliche Fahrt, and the famous Opferlied, here performed beautifully by Jean Rigby in the version for soprano, choir and orchestra.