These 2004 recordings,, reissued by Oehms Classics, with the renowned Clemencic Consort conducted by René Clemencic include works by the important composers Johann Joseph Fux and Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. In the selection of Fux's works, cosmopolitan skill meets French and Italian styles with southern German tradition. Graceful in the graceful pieces by Biber, magnificently representative in the solemn ones, this recording with a varied program offers an authentic portrait of one of the most important masters of baroque music. The Clemencic Consort under the direction of René Clemencic is one of the most renowned ensembles for music from the Middle Ages to the Baroque period with a focus on authentic interpretations. Numerous award-winning recordings bear witness to the work of the ensemble.

REVIEW:

The first CD contains ballets and sonatas for trumpet and strings by Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber. The highly virtuosic music is heard in opulent and magnificent ensemble playing. Baroque opulence also abounds in the works of Johann Joseph Fux. The works assembled here impressively demonstrate the composer's versatility. The Clemencic Consort emphasizes this with a variety of tonal color and dynamic contrasts, fully exploiting the dance-like element of Fux’s music.

-- Pizzicato

In 2018, the Styriarte Festival in Graz launched, in collaboration with Zefiro, a project to rediscover the operatic output of the Styrian composer Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741), Kapellmeister at the imperial court in Vienna for forty years, with the aim of restaging six of his nineteen operas, one per year. With a cast of Baroque vocal specialists, led by Monica Piccinini and Carlotta Colombo, this set of La corona d’Arianna represents the second instalment of the Arcana series which documents the recordings made in the course of this six-year cycle, following the success of Dafne in lauro (A488, 2021 – awarded Gramophone Editor’s Choice and rated Eccezionale by Musica), La corona d’Arianna was described as a "festa teatrale" and indeed it breathes a festive atmosphere throughout. It was written and performed in Vienna in 1726, as a birthday present from emperor Karl VI to his wife Elisabeth Christine. The choir, representing the guests at this big party, has a predominant role. On a closer look, Venus (Monica Piccinini) is busy combining couples of characters so far unlucky in love: Arianna (Carlotta Colombo) with Bacco (Rafal Tomkiewicz), Teti (Marianne Beate Kielland) with Peleo (Meli-li). This recording was made following the stage performances in Graz in June 2022 in which the work was shortened in relation to post Covid requirements. Yet the music by Fux flows happily, with plenty of dramatic tension and variety of colours.