Composer: Jan Dismas Zelenka
Performer: Alex Potter
Orchestra: Capriccio Barockorchester
Conductor: Dominik Kiefer
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Christophorus
Catalogue: CHR77463
Release: 2022
Size: 412 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Barbara, dira effera! ZWV164
02. Alma Redemptoris Mater
03. Hipocondrie à 7 concertanti in A major, ZWV187
04. Christe eleison, ZWV29
Lamentationes Jeremiæ Prophetæ, ZWV53
05. No. 6, Lamentation pro die Veneris Sancto
Hipocondrie, Sinfonia ZWV63
06. Sinfonia in C Minor
Motetto pro Nativitate I, ZWV171
07. O magnum mysterium / Dormi nate, dormi Deus
08. Sollicitus fossor ZWV209
Jan Dismas Zelenka is a significant but frequently neglected eighteenth century composer who received his musical training in Prague and was active from around 1710. He worked at the court of August Elector of Saxony in Dresden and was primarily responsible for church music at court, but also composed secular instrumental works. He was universally admired in his time and is today steadily regaining his well deserved reputation. His music displays a wide emotional spectrum ranging from contemplation to triumphant ecstasy to an equal degree in his vocal works and textless instrumental music.
The accomplished young British countertenor Alex Potter succeeds in displaying this wide emotional range in selected works for alto solo: he dazzles with astounding virtuosity in the motet Barbara, dira effera and soars in tender arcs of tension in his performance of the Christe eleison from a late unfinished mass by Zelenka. He is accompanied with consummate sensitivity by the Capriccio Barockorchester from Basel.