Credits:

Andrzej Kosendiak

Description:

An oratorio by Antonio Maria Bononcini, an Italian Baroque composer, conducted by Koseniak, one of Polands leading early music conductors. Bononcini, whose father and older brother were also musicians and who made a name for himself as an outstanding cellist from a young age, is known for his multifaceted career, which included serving at the Viennese court and holding the position of court Kapellmeister to Archduke Charles. This oratorio, *The Beheading of St. John the Baptist*, was premiered during Lent in 1709 in the chapel of Emperor Joseph I. It is characterized by a virtuosic style that reflects the high technical proficiency of the singers and instrumentalists in Vienna at the time. The work depicts famous scenes from the Bible, and by skillfully employing female voices in each scene, Bononcini imbues pieces such as the duet between Herod and Salome with extremely sensual music.Naxo