Bernardo Pasquini - Il Mosè (Weser-Renaissance Bremen)

Information

Composer: Bernardo Pasquini

• Il Mosè

Weser-Renaissance Bremen

Manfred Cordes, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: CPO

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The Tanakh has long served as a profound source of creative inspiration, rich with dramatic narratives, celestial encounters, and miracles perfectly suited for musical interpretation. Capitalizing on this, Roman composer Bernardo Pasquini dedicated one of his numerous oratorios to a pivotal episode from Exodus. The work depicts the Israelites commemorating their liberation from Egyptian slavery, a celebration abruptly interrupted by an attack from Amalekite forces. The narrative follows Joshua leading the defense while Moses intercedes through prayer, with Israel's battle fortunes directly mirroring his spiritual endurance. Ultimately, the oratorio concludes by celebrating Israel's hard-won victory with a magnificent, resounding final chorus.

Italian composer Bernardo Pasquini (1637–1710) was a renowned keyboard virtuoso and a pivotal figure in bridging the harpsichord traditions of Girolamo Frescobaldi and Domenico Scarlatti. Relocating to Rome early in his career, he held prestigious organist posts and secured the enduring patronage of the Borghese family, Queen Christina of Sweden, and prominent Roman cardinals. A prolific creator, Pasquini composed numerous operas, oratorios, and cantatas, alongside a vast body of keyboard music. He was also a celebrated educator who taught influential European musicians, including Georg Muffat, and joined the prestigious Academy of Arcadia in 1706 alongside Corelli and Alessandro Scarlatti.

Founded in 1993 by director Manfred Cordes, a lecturer at the Hochschule für Künste Bremen, the Ensemble Weser-Renaissance Bremen is a German instrumental and vocal group specializing in 16th- and 17th-century repertoire. The variable ensemble features international vocal soloists and specialized instrumentalists dedicated to delivering lively, stylistically correct period-instrument performances. A frequent guest at major European early music festivals, the group routinely records newly discovered Renaissance and early Baroque works to critical acclaim. While exploring Italian, Flemish, English, and Central German composers, the ensemble places a distinct emphasis on preserving and performing North German music.