Ars Antiqua Austria and Gunar Letzbor present a programme of outstanding
sacred music by Rupert Ignaz Mayr (1646-1712) for voice, virtuoso solo
violin and basso continuo, including five world premiere recordings.
Mayr, who worked in Munich from 1683 until his death, is considered a
reformer of southern Germany's Catholic sacred music with his clever
combining of the largely protestant sacred concert of the north with the
extemporising concertante style of Italy. R.I. Mayr's works were
influenced by his study trip to Paris as well as the Italian musicians
who dominated musical life at the Munich court. Paired with echoes of
Bavarian folk music, Mayr's music reveals both a typically Austrian
blend as well as very personal hues. At that time, Catholic church music
was dominated by the stile antico. Mayr gently expands this ancient art
by introducing the concerto form as well as the monody. He elaborately weaves polyphonic textures, his monodies emerging as highly expressive,
melodious and also virtuosic. Mayr easily joins the ranks of his famous
Austrian colleagues, matching the quality of a J.K. Kerll or the
Austrian masters around H.F. Biber.
Gunar Letzbor and his group are well-known for their musicological
research and their ambition to discover unknown and precious music from
the Austrian Baroque period. The abundance of rediscovered works has
led to several successful premiere recordings with albums featuring the
works of R. Weichlein, H.I.F. Biber, F. Conti, G.B. Viviani, G.A.P.
Mealli, G. Arnold, A. Caldara and others.
The CD recording with mezzo-soprano Bernarda Fink (four cantatas by
Francesco Conti) was awarded a Diapason d'or only one week after being
issued. Gunar Letzbor and his ensemble Ars Antiqua Austria were
presented with the Cannes Classical Award 2002 for their recording of
the Capricci Armonici by G.B. Viviani.
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