30th September is the release date for Vokalakademie Berlin’s second CD. The recording was made under the artistic direction of Frank Markowitsch in collaboration with the Bassano Ensemble Berlin. “Salve Regina” presents selected sacred choral works by the Venetian composer Antonio Caldara (1670 – 1736). From 1717 until his death in 1736, Caldara was assistant director of musical activities at the court of Charles VI in Vienna. He was highly regarded and well paid at the court, which allowed him complete freedom for his work as a composer.
Caldara composed a great number of highly interesting works in a wide range of styles, most of which are, unfortunately, unknown to audiences today. The largest part of his output is sacred choral music. There are solo cantatas like “Haec est Regina Verginum” or “Ave maris stella” in a virtuoso yet pleasingly melodic style, large-scale works like the “Magnificat”, chromatic pieces such as “Laboravi in gemitu meo”, and masterful polyphonic choral music like the 16-voice “Crucifixus”. Caldara also wrote oratorios like his “Stabat Mater”, using a lively and accomplished musical language.
“Salve Regina” is being released by Rondeau Production, and is a co-production with Deutschlandradio Kultur.
