The Glories of Salzburg Biber: Missa Salisburgensis
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Bach: Mass in B Minor
Handel: Esther
Distinguished Artist Recital
Tanya Tomkins, violoncello
"The Glories of Salzburg" is partially underwritten
by the
E. Nakamichi Foundation.
This year’s American Bach Soloists Festival & Academy will focus on masterworks by Bach and Handel and the rich tradition of musical splendor and imagination from the pens of Biber, Schmelzer, and Muffat.
THE GLORIES OF SALZBURG
In the late 16th Century, Salzburg’s newly elected Prince-Archbishop, Wolf Dietrich von Raitenau, sought to transform the Gothic city into a “German Rome.” An ambitious design by the Venetian architect Vincenzo Scamozzi was developed. But it took a fire that all but destroyed the city’s Romanesque Cathedral in 1598 to finally set in motion the grand reconstruction as imagined by the Archbishop, who would never see his dream realized.
Salzburg’s next Prince-Archbishop, Marcus Sitticus, would engage another Italian architect, Santino Solari, to refashion Scamozzi’s plans and build a new and magnificent Baroque cathedral, which was consecrated in 1628. Solari’s new designs incorporated master plans to rebuild and redevelop much of the city, resulting in what is today one of the brightest jewels of Baroque architecture to be found in Europe.
The new Salzburg would become a center of the arts, and especially of music. The first performance of an opera outside of Italy took place in Salzburg in 1614, and the arrival of Heinrich Ignaz von Biber in 1670 secured the city’s place among the most important musical centers of Europe. Biber and his compositions quickly garnered fame and popularity. He brought with him compositional traditions learned from his teacher, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, and Biber’s success would attract a host of important musicians including Georg Muffat in the 17th Century, and Antonio Caldara and the Mozart family in the 18th Century.
Handel’s Esther, known as the first English oratorio, will be performed by members of the 2013 Academy. Distinguished Artist Tanya Tomkins will present a solo recital and free public lecture/demonstrations on Bach’s Suites for Solo Violoncello. And, each Festival weekend will culminate with a performance of Bach’s magnificent Mass in B Minor. More than a dozen free events are offered.
