DISCOGRAPHY
Jan Dismas ZELENKA (1679 - 1745)
Sub olea pacis et palma virtutis conspicua orbi regia Bohemiae Corona
Melodrama de Sancto Wenceslao
(1723; text by Matouš Zill; ZWV 175)
Under the olive tree of peace and the palm tree of virtue the Crown of Bohemia splendidly shines before the whole world
Audio ukázka [MP3 4:47 s, 5,5 MB]
World premiere recording
One of the highlights of Supraphon's planned releases for this year is the world premiere recording of such a historically-important work as the coronation opera-oratorio-ballet Sub olea pacis by the greatest Czech Baroque composer, Jan Dismas Zelenka (1679-1745). Among those who joined in celebrations of the magnificent Prague coronation of the Habsburg ruler Charles VI in 1723 were the Prague Jesuits, who commissioned a monumental musical fresco from this student of theirs, the most famous Czech composer living at that time. Zelenka gladly complied with their request and even came to Prague to rehearse his work. Today we can say that his creative experiment was successful without reservations. Lasting more than an hour and a half, the work is one of the best fruits of the Baroque aesthetic and moreover - in terms of genre - one of only four "school plays" that have survived in their entirety.
Supraphon took advantage of the modern premiere of this work at the Prague Castle in July 2000 and, immediately after the successful staged performance, called in all of the several dozen performers from several countries of Europe for studio work in the Prague Castle's Rothmayer Hall. Under the leadership of Marek Štryncl, experienced in the field of early music, an optimal result was achieved. Discophiles can finally look forward to an aural form of this work which they previously have encountered only on the pages of textbooks, and whose revitalization will certainly not disappoint them.
CD I 39:42
1 Symphonia
2 - 9 Prolusio
10 - 18 Actus I
CD II 55:29
1 - 10 Actus II
11 - 15 Actus III
16 - 18 Epilogus
Musica Florea
Directed by Marek Štryncl
Musica Aeterna
Directed by Peter Zajíček
Ensemble Philidor
Directed by Eric Baude-Delhommais
Boni Pueri (Czech Boy‘s Choir)
Choirmaster Pavel Horák
Noémi Kiss - soprano
Anna Hlavenková - soprano
Markus Forster - countertenor
Jarislav Březina - tenor
Adam Zdunikowski - tenor
Aleš Procházka - bass
Conductor Marek Štryncl
Recording director: Petr Řezníček
Recording engineer: Tomáš Zikmund
Sound assistant: Aleš Dvořák
Producer: Impresario, Czech Arts Agency, Marek Vrabec
DDD Stereo
Total time: 95:11
Supraphon a.s. 2001
SU 3520-2 232
