Sacred music of the Imperial Hofkapelle

This year’s festive concert sets out for a journey in time through 200 years of sacred music by the “Wiener Hofkapelle”.  Established in 1498 by the Emperor Maximilian I (1449-1519), a sophisticated man and supporter of the fine arts, the outstanding ensemble assembles the European elite in the areas of composition, organ and vocal music. The reputation of the institution, however, also relies on the individual musical directors (“Hofkapellmeister”) who succeeded in giving impetus to the musical life of their time far beyond Vienna borders.

The selection of works performed in the concert written by former “Hofkapellmeister” such as Heinrich Isaac (app. 1450-1517), Ludwig Senfl (app. 1486-1542/43), Giovanni Valentini (1582/83-1649), Johann Jakob Froberger (1616-1667) and Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (app. 1623-1680) encompasses a period of more than 200 years taking the audience from late Renaissance to early Baroque. The festive concert thus sets out to permeate the greater lines of development of artistic creation in those times when music ensembles at court were still completely dedicated to the presentation of imperial splendor. Musicians and singers: Protestant church choir, Renaissance music group “Holdergold”, Kammerorchester Mindelheim, brass instruments and soloists. Organ: Ottmar Einsiedler. Conductor: Gabriele Laxgang.