On 24 April in the Principal Room of Wrocław Town Hall, Wrocław Baroque Ensemble will be conducted by Andrzej Kosendiak, a leading specialist in this type of repertoire. The programme includes works by three artists: Marcin Leopolita, Johann Sebastian Bach and Antonio Caldara.

Missa paschalis by Marcin Leopolita is considered by many researchers to be one of the most outstanding works of Old Polish music. Its author was born in Lviv (for this reason he is sometimes called Lwowczyk or Marcin of Lviv) at the end of the first half of the 16th century. He is a mysterious figure, whom we still know little about. None of his works appeared in print during his lifetime. We only know that in 1560 he was accepted as the court composer of Sigismund II Augustus. Missa paschalis (or “Easter Mass”) is an elaborate, elaborate five-part composition in which the author transferred the achievements of the Franco-Flemish school to Poland.

Then we will hear the rarely performed Sonata in D major for viola da gamba and harpsichord obbligato BWV 1028 by Johann Sebastian Bach. It is the second of a collection of three sonatas for viola da gamba, the predecessor of the cello. Christ lag in Todesbanden BWV 4 is a cantata written for Easter Sunday. It is one of the earliest works of this genre in the oeuvre of the Leipzig cantor, probably written around 1707.

The concert will end with the recitative Caro Giesù and the aria È morto il mio Giesù from Morte e sepoltura di Christo. The author of this work is Antonio Caldara – a composer born in Venice, best known for his vocal and instrumental works – operas, cantatas and oratorios. He was active in Mantua, Barcelona, ​​Rome and Vienna. It was in the Austrian capital that Morte e sepoltura di Christo was written in 1724. The two fragments that will be heard during the concert conducted by Andrzej Kosendiak are expressive music full of suffering and pathos.