Officium Defunctorum ZWV 47, Requiem ZWV 46 (CD)

Jan Dismas Zelenka’s music for the funeral rites of Augustus the Strong – Officium defunctorum ZWV 47 (Invitatorium, Nocturno I-III) and Requiem ZWV 46 – reveals the most impressive face of the Baroque theatre of death. The man in the chief role of this spectacle follows the appeal in the 95th psalm of the introductory antiphon of the invitatorium “the King, in whom everything lives, let us worship Him”, and bows his head before God and the majesty of death. The sombre atmosphere of the invitatorium, which is characterised by the relentless alternation of the lessons with the responses and the strict counterpoint of the Gregorian Chant, contrasts starkly with theexhilarating splendour and variety of the Requiem. The Requiem Mass is not only funeral music here, but is above all the omen for the resurrection and the apotheosis of the Sovereign. Zelenka takes complete advantage of every possibility which was at his disposal from the court orchestra. Trumpets and horns together with concertante transverse flutes, oboes and bassoons are supplemented by the chalumeau.

The Prague baroque orchestra Collegium 1704 and vocal ensemble Collegium Vocale 1704 were founded by harpsichordist and conductor Václav Luks in 2005. Their recordings for Arta records (Benda), Supraphon (Zelenka, Reichenauer), and Zig-Zag (Zelenka) have been favourably received in Europe and further afield. The present recording marks the beginning of a long-term cooperation between Collegium 1704/Václav Luks and the label Accent.