Graun: Te Deum
Label: CPO Catalog: 7771582 Format: SACD Carl Heinrich Graun, who was King Frederick II’s opera conductor and court composer from 1740 until his death in 1759, proves to be a master composer of his epoch not only in his Christmas Oratorio, a previous cpo rediscovery (cpo 999 707-2), but also on our new release of his Te Deum. True to the lyrical sensibility of his musical language, Graun counters the pompous character of other Te Deum settings and does without “loud” instruments, calling for a mere two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, strings, and basso continuo. The effective alternation between choral parts of big sound and arias produces a colorful and varied musical interplay and an intensity stirring the emotions. The choir begins the work with the festive “Te Deum laudamus” opening number, and Graun on the whole assigns a preeminent role to the choir in this work. Three exemplary motets comparable to Bach’s motets in their dimensions and elaboration round off the recording. The soloists Monika Mauch, Elisabeth von Magnus, Bernhard Gaertner, and Klaus Mertens, the members of L’arpa festante performing on historical instruments, and the Basel Madrigalists under the conductor Felix Naef interpret all these works with a fine touch and in all their rich nuances! Price: $25.98 |