ZELENKA Gesù al Calvario   Collegium 1704

In addition to the Bach Passions, there are numerous compositions for Lent that we are hardly familiar with – like those written by his contemporary Jan Dismas Zelenka. The Bohemian composer, who worked at the court of the Saxon Elector in Dresden, has long since ceased to be an insider tip. In his Passion oratorio Gesù al calvario, he focuses on the sufferings of the Saviour on his way to Golgotha and the question of how sinners could deserve such a work of love. With regard to the music, the oratorio draws on the Italian operatic tradition, demonstrating Zelenka’s outstanding ability to create a dramatic overall composition and employ musical means to create a fascinating portrayal of the characters’ psychological profiles.

Václav Luks and his Collegium 1704 choir and orchestra offer a powerful experience of this key moment in the story of the Passion.

Benno Schachtner – Gesù (countertenor)
Roberta Mameli – Maria Vergine (soprano)
Deborah Cachet – Maddalena (soprano)
Margherita Maria Sala – Maria Cleofe (alto)
Yuriy Mynenko – San Giovanni (countertenor)
Collegium 1704 choir & orchestra
Conductor: Václav Luks