MUSICA ANTIQUA CITOLIBENSIS

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SU 3908-2                             

Release date: june 2007

Box 4 CDs                              First time on CD!

Soloists, Prague Symphony Orchestra / Jirí Stárek, Prague Chamber Orchestra / Frantisek Vajnar, Prague Radio Chorus / Milan Malý, Kühn Children’s Chorus / Jirí Chvála

Milan Slechta, Marie Sestáková – organ, Frantisek Xaver Thuri – harpsichord, Miroslav Kejmar – clarino, Jirí Krejcí – oboe, Pavel Verner – oboe d´amour, Václav Vodicka – English horn, Frantisek Herman – bassoon

In 1968 Supraphon issued the first album of what were then unknown compositions of the Czech masters of the 18th century under the title Musica Antiqua Citolibensis. The pieces had been uncovered by musicologist Zdenek Sesták in Citoliby, a newly-discovered rural location near Louny. The exceptional response to the album both at home and abroad prompted the release of a second broad collection in 1984. A number of top-class singers and instrumentalists contributed to the recording, including the Kühn Children’s Chorus and Prague Symphony Orchestra. Now we are offering this newly-remastered collection of select pieces from the Citoliby repertoire, which consisted primarily of sacred vocal works with instrumental accompaniment. The pieces are living proof of the astonishingly high level of musicianship in this Czech village during the second half of the 18th century.