Carl Heinrich Graun (1704–1759) gained fame and recognition both as a composer and as an outstanding singer. Already as a child, he impressed audiences with his beautiful soprano voice, and as an adult – with his tenor. From an early age, he received training and gained performance experience both in church music and on the operatic stage. From 1740 until his death, he served as Kapellmeister at the royal court of Frederick II, where, alongside numerous operas composed in the Italian style, he also wrote instrumental and sacred works. The Passion oratorio Der Tod Jesu ranks among the composer’s most significant achievements within the latter genre.
The work was composed on commission from Frederick II’s younger sister, Princess Anna Amalia, who entrusted the writing of the libretto to Karl Wilhelm Ramler (1725–1798). The poet – honored in his own time with the distinguished title “the German Horace” – created an outstanding text drawing on elements from all four Gospels. The portrayal of Christ as the embodiment of virtue received a superb musical interpretation from Graun. The elegant treatment of the chorales, the refinement of the chorus writing, and the extraordinary virtuosity of the arias captivated contemporary audiences, who sought in music profound expression, emotional depth, and refined taste. From its premiere in March 1755 onward, the work was performed annually in Berlin, adding splendor to the celebrations of Holy Week. This tradition remained alive until the end of the nineteenth century, when Graun’s composition was replaced by J. S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
Marta Dziewanowska-Pachowska
PROGRAM
Carl Heinrich Graun (1704–1759) – Der Tod Jesu, GraunWV B:VII:2
Chorale: Du, dessen Augen flossen
Chorus: Sein Odem ist schwach
Recitative (soprano): Gethsemane! Gethsemane!
Aria (soprano): Du Held, auf den die Köcher
Chorale: Wen hab’ ich sonst als dich allein
Recitative (soprano): Ach mein Immanuel!
Aria (soprano): Ein Gebet um neue Stärke
Recitative (tenor): Nun klingen Waffen
Aria (tenor): Ihr weichgeschaffnen Seelen
Chorus: Unsre Seele ist gebeuget
Chorale: Ich will von meiner Missetat
Recitative (bass): Jerusalem, voll Mordlust
Aria (bass): So stehet ein Berg Gottes
Chorus: Christus hat uns ein Vorbild gelassen
Chorale: Ich werde dir zu Ehren alles wagen
Recitative (soprano): Da steht der traurige, verhängnisvolle Pfahl
Duet (I and II soprano): Feinde, die ihr mich betrübt
Recitative (soprano): Wer ist der Heilige, zum Muster uns verliehn
Aria (soprano): Singt dem göttlichen Propheten
Chorus: Freuet euch alle, ihr Frommen
Chorale: Wie herrlich ist die neue Welt
Recitative (bass): Auf einmal fällt der aufgehaltne Schmerz
Recitative accompagnato (bass): Es steigen Seraphim
Chorale (chorus, bass solo): Ihr Augen, weint!
Chorus: Hier liegen wir gerührte Sünder
PERFORMERS
MAŁGORZATA TROJANOWSKA I SOPRANO
ANETA ŁUKASZEWICZ II SOPRANO
SYLWESTER SMULCZYŃSKI TENOR
JĘDRZEJ SUSKA BASS
THE CHORUS OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA
THE PERIOD INSTRUMENTS ENSEMBLE OF THE POLISH ROYAL OPERA CAPELLA REGIA POLONA
KAROL KNAPIŃSKI CHORUS MASTER
KRZYSZTOF GARSTKA HARPSICHORD/ POSITIVE ORGAN, CONDUCTOR
