Johannes Schenck - Suonate per violino e violone o cimbalo Op. 7, Vol. 2 (Ensemble Castor)

Information

Composer: Johannes Schenck

• Fantasia I
• Sonatina V
• Capriccio VII
• Sonatina VIII
• Capriccio X
• Sinfonia XI
• Capriccio XII
• Sonatina XVI
• Aria XVIII

Ensemble Castor

    Petra Samhaber-Eckhardt, violin

    Philipp Comploi, cello

    Erich Traxler, harpsichord

Date: 2026

Label: Challenge Classics

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Ensemble Castor continues its acclaimed exploration of Johannes Schenck’s oeuvre with the second volume of Suonate per violino e violone o cimbalo, Op. 7, presented here as a complete world premiere recording. Published in 1699, Opus 7 is a dazzling compendium that blends Italian sonata form, French dance suites, and the expressive freedom of the Stylus phantasticus. Far from being simple exercises for beginners, these works reveal profound artistry and virtuosic experimentation. Utilizing refined chamber dialogue and strict historical practice, the Austrian ensemble—featuring Petra Samhaber-Eckhardt, Philipp Comploi, and Erich Traxler—brings Schenck’s bold, elegant, and cross-border genius vividly to life.

Born in Amsterdam, Dutch musician and composer Johannes Schenck (1660–after 1712) was a renowned virtuoso of the viola da gamba. A pioneer in Dutch vocal music, his Bacchus, Ceres en Venus is widely recognized as the first opera written in the Dutch language. Around 1696, Schenck's prestigious reputation led to an appointment at the Düsseldorf court of Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. While the exact date and location of his death remain uncertain due to a lack of church and cemetery records, his final published compositions appeared in 1712, and he was omitted from the court musician registry by 1717.

Founded in 2010 by internationally successful musicians, the Austrian early music group Ensemble Castor has established a stellar reputation far beyond its national borders. Under the musical direction of violinist Petra Samhaber-Eckhardt, the ensemble regularly collaborates with celebrated vocalists like Alois Mühlbacher and prominent guest artists such as Enrico Onofri and Dorothee Oberlinger. Ensemble Castor is a frequent guest at prestigious international festivals and concert halls, including the Boston Early Music Festival, Elbphilharmonie Hamburg, and Händel-Festspiele Halle. Their highly acclaimed performances are consistently validated by outstanding critical reviews that attest to the ensemble's exceptional musical quality.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz