HEINRICH VON HERZOGENBERG (1843-1900): Die Passion, Op. 93.

Description: One of three evangelic oratorios written by Herzogenberg for Friedrich Spitta (brother of Bach's biographer), theology professor at Strasbourg, this work dates from 1896 and was intended for actual liturgical use. Thus, forces are small (harmonium, organ and strings) and solo arias almost completely absent although the music itself can range from the utter simplicity of the Evangelist's narratives to homophonic and polyphonic choral passages or expressive and sometimes highly chromatic harmony. 2 CDs. German-English texts. Ivan Goossens, Jan Van Elsacker (tenors), Jan Van der Crabben (baritone), Greetje Anthoni (soprano), Lieve Maertens (alto), Dirk Snellings (bass), Chorus and Orchestra of Ex Tempore; Florian Heyrick.