Deutsche Harmonia Mundi
have released a fine selection of motets
that all feature the soprano voice.
The recording consists of material previously
released from 1996. It is good to have
these fine performances return to the
catalogue.
Mozart’s Motet Exsultate,
Jubilate was originally written
in Milan in 1773 for the castrato Venanzio
Rauzzini but is now frequently used
as a showpiece work for the soprano
voice. The motet is considered to be
an excellent example of sacred music
that is Baroque in structure and mood.
Ruth Ziesak’s melting soprano voice
sounds impressive throughout this exultant
music especially in the brilliant concluding
section which is spun elaborately around
the single word Alleluia.
The Recitative and
Aria Ergo Interest is a short
work lasting less than five minutes
that Mozart wrote in Italy in 1770.
An occasional piece set in the Italian
operatic style Ruth Ziesak excels in
the demands of the score and sings with
a deeply felt expressivity.
Pergolesi wrote five
Salve Reginas in praise of the
Virgin Mary. The greatest is this fifth
and last in C minor from 1736. This
profoundly affecting work is in six
contrasting slow and quicker sections
that all carry an intensely sacred conviction.
Soprano Ruth Ziesak gives a warm and
moving interpretation of passionate
intensity.
The Motet Salve
Regina by J.C. Bach exhibits contrasting
solo and tutti sections. Ruth soloist
Ziesak gives a most satisfying interpretation
and she is especially excellent in the
passages of extraordinarily demanding
runs.
German soprano Ruth
Ziesak, who was ‘discovered’ by the
late Maestro Georg Solti at the Salzburg
Festival in 1991 when singing Pamina
in Die Zauberflöte, goes
from strength to strength with high
calibre performances that are both eloquent
and beguiling. One cannot fail to be
impressed by the spirited and persuasive
playing from Frankfurt based authentic
instrument orchestra La Stagione under
the direction of Michael Schneider.
A gratifying reissue
of rewarding works from DHM.
Michael Cookson
Ruth Ziesak (soprano) 
