Les Ambassadeurs

PISENDEL
Sonata in c minor for orchestra

ZELENKA
Gloria Patri (Miserere ZWV 57)

HEINICHEN
Et in spiritum Sanctum (Missa n° 12)

BACH
Et in spiritum Sanctum (Missa BWV 232)

ZELENKA
Salve Regina ZWV 135
Overture in F major a 7 concertanti ZWV 188

QUANTZ
Concerto in g minor for 2 flutes & orchestra

VIVALDI
Laudate pueri RV 601

In the 18th century, Dresden was a very rare example of religious tolerance. For political reasons (the claim for the Polish crown), August the Strong converted to catholicism – but did not demand the same to the population. Sacred music grew quickly with spectacular compositions by Zelenka (profound, devoted, dark) and Heinichen (a painter with instrumental colours). As for Bach, he was hoping afor a position at the court when he dedicated his great Mass to August. In 1720, the quarell between the castrato Senesino and Heinichen, the insults and the scandal that followed, caused the temporary closing of the opera house. Until it reopened under the influence of Hasse, the magnificence, the brilliancy and the extravagance of the Dresden style were transfered into church music without ever betraying the piety and faith of the feelings expressed in their works.

Sabine Devieilhe, soprano

dir. Alexis Kossenko

Les Ambassadeurs

(18 musicians: flute, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 6 violins, 2 violas, 2 celli, double bass, theorbo, harpischord/organ)