VAŇHAL J.B. MISSA SOLEMNIS, STABAT MATER / Virtuosi di Praga, PCO / V.Neumann (2CD)

CD 1

Jan Křtitel VAŇHAL (1739-1813) - Missa Solemnis in E flat major / M.Filová, M.Beňačková, J.Durmuller, J.Sulženko, Virtuosi di Praga / V.Neumann

CD 2

Jan Křtitel VAŇHAL - Stabat Mater in F minor, Symphony in D major (Bryan D4) / N.Melik, M.Beňačková / Prague Chamber Orchestra / V.Neumann

Marta Filová, Natalia Melnik, Marta Beňačková, Jörg Dürmüller, Jiří Sulženko

Prague Chamber Choir

Virtuosi di Praga, Prague Cahmber Orchestra

Václav Neumann condictor

Like so many Bohemian composers, the eastern Bohemian Vaňhal had moved to Vienna early in his career and can thus be viewed as a member of the select core of composers consisting of Haydn, Salieri, Mozart and Beethoven, to whom we owe Viennese classicism. The Missa Solemnis is noteworthy not just for its quality and opulence, but surprises the listener above all with three prolonged concert solo arias. By comparison, Vaňhal's Stabat Mater seems formally more conservative in its usual alternation between choir parts and solo numbers. It is above all the rich melodic imagination that is captivating.

(Orfeo Rec.2019)