Jan Dismas Zelenka: Missa Sancti Josephi

With his Kammerchor Stuttgart, Frieder Bernius has recorded Jan Dismas Zelenka’s impressive “Missa Sancti Josephi” which, although already composed in 1732, is in no way inferior to Zelenka’s famous late masses. Up to now this work was not available for performance since the autograph score – the only preserved source – was severely damaged in 1945. However, a reconstruction was possible and is now available for the first time in an edition at Carus-Verlag; the recording by Frieder Bernius was also made on the basis of this edition. As always, Bernius collaborates with high-ranking soloists, including – for the first time – the young soprano Julia Lezhneva. The recording is complemented by Zelenka’s psalm compositions “De profundis” and “In exitu Israel”.

If you don’t know the music of the 18th-century Czech composer, this is an ideal place to start. Singing, choral and solo, is spot on, the orchestral playing vibrant and exciting. — BBC Music Magazine, February 2019