COLLEGIUM 1704’s NEW CD

Within the Music from Eighteen-Century Prague series, Supraphon is releasing a new CD (SU 4160–2) recorded by Collegium 1704 featuring vocal pieces by Jan Dismas Zelenka and František Ignác Antonín Tůma. To mark the occasion, we talked to the ensemble’s con­ductor, Václav Luks.

Collegium 1704’s new CD is part of the Music from Eighteen-Century Prague series. What is your opinion of the edition?

The edition is a praiseworthy achievement since it is perhaps for the first time ever that Czech music has been gradually presented in an integrated form, with all the historical connections. Within the context of the project, the listeners can thus also get to know wonderful music written by entirely unknown composers whose pieces would be unlikely to feature on an independent recording. Other valuable aspects are the interconnection between such superlative musicologists as Václav Kapsa and the performers, as well as the high level of the accompanying texts. I think that Supraphon’s de­cision to extend its catalogue with this edition was a real bull’s-eye. During my travels throughout Europe, I have been regularly assured of the fact that this project has secured Supraphon a strong position on the international early-music scene.

What struck you most during the album’s recording?

When it comes to Zelenka, I was greatly surprised by the stylistic purity and the markedly individualistic language with which he was able to express himself by means of the Palestrina counterpoint compositional techniques. As regards Tůma, in addition to his contrapuntal mastery, I was intrigued by his distinct melodic lines, revealing the dawning of Viennese Classicism. Yet the true discovery for me was the highly original music of Johann Georg Orschler. We can only regret that precious few works of his have been preserved.

What has Collegium 1704 in store this year?

There are a number of interesting projects. In addition to the ongoing concert cycles Baroque Opera Stars and Prague-Dresden Music Bridge, we have a very ample programme of foreign engagements. Following our extremely successful January performance of J. D. Zelenka compositions at Vienna’s Konzer­thaus, we are scheduled to give another high-profile appearance in Vienna featuring Czech music – a concert version of Mysliveček’s opera L’Olimpiade at the Theater an der Wien in March. One of the most prestigious projects this year will be performances at the Oude Muziek festival in Utrecht, where we have been named ensemble-in-residence.