Klassik Heute: outstanding.
The album features compositions by Michael Ernst Heinsius and Nicolaas Lentz, two lesser-known composers of the Baroque period. Heinsius, who lived from 1710 to 1764, was an organist and teacher in various Dutch cities, including Nijmegen and Arnhem. His work includes a collection of symphonies titled "6 simphonies pour ceux qui apprennent la musique," characterized by their melodic lines and striking dissonances. These pieces were likely composed for the high-level Collegium Musicum of St. Caecilia in Arnhem.
Nicolaas Lentz, whose exact birth year is uncertain but who died in 1782, was a wine merchant and organist in Rotterdam. He left behind few compositions, notably a sonata for violin and harpsichord and three harpsichord concertos. The "Concerti a sei strumenti" by Lentz, featured on this album, display his adeptness in composition, blending Baroque roots with elements of the galant style.
The performances on this album are by the Orchestra 'Van Wassenaer,' an ensemble specializing in Baroque music played on period instruments. Founded in 1990 by violinist Makoto Akatsu in The Hague, the orchestra is named after Dutch composer and statesman Count Unico Wilhelm van Wassenaer. The ensemble's repertoire includes Van Wassenaer's "Concerti Armonici" and other Baroque works. The orchestra has performed extensively across Europe and Japan, and is known for its cohesive style influenced by Sigiswald Kuijken.
Makoto Akatsu, the orchestra's founder and director, studied baroque violin in the Netherlands and has performed with several renowned early music ensembles. Harpsichordist Alexsander Puliaev, born in St. Petersburg, has a distinguished career both as a soloist and chamber musician, with numerous performances and teaching roles across Europe. Together, they bring to life the intricate and beautiful compositions of Heinsius and Lentz, providing a glimpse into the rich musical traditions of the Dutch Baroque era.
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