Ristori: Sacred Works

Taubert, Heidi Maria; Batzdorfer Hofkapelle; Erler, David; Uhle, Cornelius; Saxon Vocal Ensemble; Post, Andreas; Jung, Matthias

Giovanni Alberto Ristori was the son of the Italian actor Tomaso Ristori and came to the Saxon court in Dresden when his father found employment there as the director of the Italian acting company. Giovanni Ristori was regarded as a talented composer, pianist, and organist, and obtained the post of »compositeur« with the Italian court acting company in 1717. He later received the posts of chamber organist in 1733, church composer in 1746, and the Dresden court’s assistant chapel master under Johann Adolph Hasse in 1750. Unfortunately, more famous names, like Jan Dismas Zelenka and Johann Adolph Hasse, currently obscure Ristori’s contributions in the public’s perception of the Saxon court ensemble in the eighteenth century. The reason for this is simple: although the court acquired the composer’s papers after his death, many manuscripts, including his complete church music, were removed from Dresden during World War II and never brought back there. Isolated new performances of extant compositions of high quality nonetheless have led to inquiries concerning the existence of other works by him. Therefore, the quest for Ristori manuscripts marked the beginning of the present recording project; and so it is that it is now our privilege to hear three top-quality sacred compositions by this talented composer. All three works not only are able to contribute to the vindication of a composer who has been particularly hard hit by the loss of primary sources but also demonstrate the high level of the musical everyday at the Dresden court church.

Price: $25.98

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