Camerata Silesia / Baroque Sonus / Szostak / An 18th-century surprise - NOSPR

For its 35th birthday, Camerata Silesia is planning a concert of 18th-century choral music that promises to surprise and delight. The genius of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart needs no introduction, and his Missa brevisin G major, alongside three short choral works, will form the first part of the programme. However, you may not have had many opportunities to discover the music of Artem Wedel and Joseph Zeidler. Camerata’s concert repertoire demonstrates that it is not only in Viennese circles that masters of the classical style can be found.

Artem Wedel, a contemporary of Beethoven, was born and died in Kyiv. His eventful life led him from service in Moscow’s military bands, through teaching and organising musical life in Kharkiv, to a return to his family home, where he dedicated himself to composing music for the glory of God. Later accused of conspiracy, he was committed to a psychiatric hospital. His choral compositions combine magnificent vocal virtuosity with fervent piety. In turn, Józef Zeidler remains an enigmatic figure, which is hardly surprising given that his music was rediscovered barely 20 years ago after two centuries of neglect. Almost nothing is known of his origins or where he received his musical education. Today, the revival of the so-called ‘Polish Mozart’ retains an air of mystery – which inspires both scholars and music-lovers to explore unknown chapters in the history of Polish music.

Szymon Maliszewski

Concert duration: approximately 50 minutes