Johann Joseph Fux: Il Fonte della Salute (Oratorium op.23)

Johann Joseph Fux (1660-1741), as court composer to Emperor Leopold I, was the undisputed authority in the musical life of Vienna. His reputation as a great contrapuntalist and strict teacher was recognized throughout Europe. As a composer he set standards – in almost all genres. A Viennese specialty were the Sepolcri: oratorios composed exclusively for the Charlemagne liturgy, with their realization on fixed dates, Holy Thursday and Good Friday. The sepulcrum, the Holy Sepulchre, was recreated in the church hall as part of the Easter liturgy and served as a meditative contemplation of Christ’s sufferings, as well as for self-examination. Fux wrote six such sepolcri, one of which the Vienna Academy under Martin Haselböck is now snatching from oblivion: Il Fonte della salute, Die Quelle des Heils (The Fountain of Salvation) of 1716. The three allegories Grazia, Misericordia and Giustizia see their task as leading the two sinners crucified to the left and right of Jesus to divine salvation. Demonio tries to thwart these efforts, but is ultimately defeated. Fux has made this struggle of two powers for one soul dramaturgically extremely varied. Our soloists include Linda Perillo, Ann Monoyios, Kumiko Koike and Henning Voss.