“All of Munich is talking about his oratorio, Abramo ed Isacco, which he presented here.”
Mozart in a letter to his father, October 11, 1777

***

Until recently, I was not familiar with the music of the Czech maestro Josef Mysliveček – Il divino boemo (The Divine Bohemian) – but his oratorio Abramo ed Isacco completely captivated me with its depth and expressiveness. The work and the concerts in Prague, Dresden, and Amsterdam with Collegium 1704 and Václav Luks were a highlight at the beginning of my new season. It was particularly exciting to explore this extraordinary piece together with Václav Luks and his orchestra – true experts in this field, who bring Mysliveček’s music to life with remarkable authenticity and passion.

This work, which premiered in Florence in 1776 and was performed the following year at the court of Elector Maximilian III in Munich, fascinated contemporary audiences as well as the young Mozart. It brings to life the dramatic Old Testament story of Abraham, who is on the verge of sacrificing his son. The oratorio quickly became one of the most performed works of the 18th century and gained widespread popularity throughout Europe. It demands extraordinary vocal virtuosity and showcases the qualities of the singers for whom Mysliveček composed his dramatic works.

The performances were not only a surprising discovery for me but also a reminder of how much more there is still to uncover in music history.

Fotos (c)_PetraHajska