Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber: Vesperae A 32 [CD], Ars Antiqua Austria / Gunar Letzbor, CD

Gunar Letzbor and his ensemble Ars Antiqua Austria present two magnificent major works from two important Baroque centres of Catholic church music north of the Alps: from Salzburg comes Biber's multi-choir Vespers for 32 voices, which splendidly demonstrates the importance of Salzburg Cathedral. Benedikt Anton Aufschnaiter was Kapellmeister at Passau Cathedral, and his magnificent festive mass Missa Laetamur in ea is heard as a world premiere recording. The instrumentation of the Ars Antiqua Austria ensemble is based on that of the Salzburg Cathedral Choir at the time of Biber, and Letzbor adds the soprano and alto voices of the St. Florian Boys' Choir to the outstanding soloists. This allows Biber's Vespers in particular to shine in magnificent Baroque splendor, but never in an overloaded way - the various choirs of singers, trumpets with timpani, cornets and strings sound very transparent and balanced, allowing the listener to follow the text and musical subtleties perfectly.