Schütz: Auferstehungshistorie, SWV50 (Historia der Auferstehung Jesu Christi)

The second volume of ARS NOVA Copenhagen & chief conductor Paul Hillier’s series showcasing the passions and oratorios of Heinrich Schütz features the Christmas Story and the Resurrection History, two masterly examples of the early vocal Baroque before the time of Bach, who admired Schütz.

ARS NOVA and a team of talented Danish soloists are accompanied by players of the acclaimed ensemble Concerto Copenhagen and the viola da gamba ensemble Sirius Viols, founded by and featuring Hille Perl, one of the world’s leading viola da gamba players.

Theese works conceived in very different ways, as much in the way that the accompaniments to the recitatives are constructed as in the theatricality with which the characters are imbued; the human aspect of the Sieben Worte is contrasted with the more abstract image of the characters in the Historia. Of Johann Sebastiani, however, we know practically nothing; his Matthäus Passion seems nonetheless to be heavily influenced by Schütz with an additional typically Lutheran touch given by the chorales that punctuate the various scenes of the Gospel narration.

This box set presents the complete narrative works (Historiae) of Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672) in the acclaimed new recordings by Ars Nova Copenhagen conducted by Paul Hillier.

The engaging account of the six stories of Christmas, Passion and Resurrection in Schütz’ sublime Baroque settings is presented along with authoritative notes and the conductor’s own commentary on the works, which rank among the finest pieces of the 17th Century.