For the Swedish conductor Joseph Martin Kraus, the overture played an important role in his own stage compositions. From a young age he had been fascinated by the theater and especially by opera. The great idol of the young German, who made a career in Stockholm, was Christoph Willibald Gluck, whose main concern was that dramatic works should be both logical and emotional. The opera Aeneas i Cartago, written in 1790, occupies the most important place in the composer's oeuvre; for this opera alone he wrote three extended and dramatic orchestral introductions, which are among Krauss's latest pieces. For Kraus, the overture was an integral part of the rest of the work - whether that work was dramatic or comic in nature. His overtures provide the key to the dramaturgical content of the main pieces, whether they were intended for the stage or the concert hall. With the Ensemble Theresia, cpo plans to record Krauss' complete symphonic works in the coming years.
Rainer W Janka – klassik-heute.de – 12 February 2024
“… they [Theresia Orchestra] are reassuringly stylish under Claudio Astronio…”
Lindsay Kemp – Gramophone magazine – March 2024
“… Performances are sprightly, intonationally precise and full of character… CPO plans to record Kraus’ complete symphonic works over the coming years. This initial foray suggests we are in for a treat.” ****
Clive Paget – Limelightmagazine.com.au – 7 February 2023
**** Excellent Album
Marc Vignal – Classica magazine (France) – February 2024
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