Fux: Ave Regina

Johann Joseph Fux served for many years as the imperial court's Kapellmeister in Vienna, and is one of the best known and most important composers of that period. In times of the most fervent religious faith, during which the Habsburg Emperor considered piety the foremost virtue of a ruling sovereign as well as indispensable as the basis for organizing society, the roles of the Kapellmeister and court orchestra were of essential importance. Fux composed many sacred works for public church services that functioned as a visible sign of the close connection between church and state. In addition to Masses, Requiem Masses and Vespers, Marian antiphons and sonatas for performance at the Gradual took on special importance. Known for the precision of its historically informed performances, Accentus Austria and its conductor Thomas Wimmer have selected a musically absorbing and diverse program of sonatas and antiphons by Fux for this CD. The works by Fux featured on this disc are never monotonous - in fact, they surprise the listener with their musical refinement and wide-ranging tonal language. This new release includes wonderful Ave Regina antiphons in outstanding performances by soprano Hana Blažíková