Antonio Rosetti: Jesus In Gethsemane (CPO Audio CD 2-disc set)

Gabriele Hierdeis
Ruth Sandhof
Jan Kobow
Thomas E. Bauer
NDR Chor
Mecklenburgisches Barockorchester,
Johannes Moesus


Antonio Rosetti (1750-1792), who was almost always mentioned in the same breath as Mozart and Haydn by his contemporaries, composed over 40 symphonies, about six dozen solo concertos and chamber music and a considerable number of sacred vocal works.

Ranked amongst his greatest achievements in the latter genre are the large-scale passion oratorio "Jesus in Gethsemane" and the "Hallelujah" cantata. Both show the virtuoso mastery of a whole array of musical techniques.

Thanks to their melodic ingenuity, sophisticated harmony, a distinctive sense of proportion and the, as always, accomplished manipulation of orchestral tones, both of these late works are counted among Rosetti's most meaningful creations.

There is no better conductor for this disc of Rosseti masterpieces than Johannes Moesus who is president of the International Rosetti Society.