Concentus Musicus Wien
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Arnold Schoenberg Choir
(chorus master Erwin Ortner)
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Nikolaus Harnoncourt
conductor
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Daniela Fally
soprano
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Herbert Lippert
tenor
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Ruben Drole
bass
Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
"Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II.", WoO 87 for soloists, chorus and orchestra
"Christ on the Mount of Olives", Op. 85. Oratorio for three soloists, chorus and orchestra
Beethoven from an angle not encountered every day: as befits Holy Week, Nikolaus Harnoncourt will conduct the rarely heard oratorio 'Christ on the Mount of Olives', composed in 1803 and dealing with the taking of Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. Unlike Bach, Beethoven did not set the words of the Bible; moreover, his version of the Passion was intended not for church performance but for the Lenten season at the Theatre an der Wien, where he had just been appointed composer-in-residence. But the first part of the concert features a work whose existence remained hidden to the world of music for decades after Beethoven's death. It was not until 1884 that the early 'Cantata on the Death of Emperor Joseph II' was rediscovered. The 19-year-old composer was commissioned to write it by the 'Reading and Recreation Society' of his native Bonn. But he was unable to finish the work in time for the funeral ceremonies. Though there was no longer any hope of a performance, he continued undaunted and later used the work as proof of his talent when he applied to his later teacher, Joseph Haydn.