Music for Advent and Christmas

Abstract

World premiere recordings are always welcome at this time of year when so much familiar material resurfaces for festive performances and services. Jana Semerádová’s Collegium Marianum makes a very convincing account on Supraphon’s ‘Music from Eighteenth-Century Prague’ series of the music of Josef Antonín Sehling (Christmas in Prague Cathedral (Supraphon su4174-2, issued 2014, 71′)). As a violinist in the orchestra of Count Václav Morzin—one of the most prominent aristocrats in Prague to whom Vivaldi dedicated his set of op.8 violin concertos—Sehling was, we can assume, given the opportunity to familiarize himself with Vivaldi’s music. This is evident from much of his string-writing, which is stylishly played here by the Marianum players led by concert master Lenka Torgersen. Of Sehling’s numerous sacred works that are preserved, Semerádová selects a varied account including two ‘motetti’—one of which is the beautiful Dormi nate, mi mellite, an offertory for the Feast of the Epiphany—and the memorable German aria for Advent, Donner und Hagel, successfully brought to life by baritone Tomáš Král. But the most charming pieces by far are the four Pastorales, whose infectious music is reason enough to purchase this recording.