"Markéta Böhmová, Pavla Radostová - soprano, Piotr Olech - alto, Jaroslav Březina, Jakub Kubín - tenor, Jiří M. Procházka - bass, Luise Haugk - oboe, Czech Ensemble Baroque, conductor: Roman Válek

Nearly 1,000 kilometres separate Holešov, Moravia, from Strasbourg, if one takes a detour through Mannheim. Franz Xaver Richter`s professional journey started in Count Rottal`s court orchestra in Holešov and ended in the prestigious post of Kapellmeister at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Strasbourg. He is primarily known as one of the major representatives of the renowned Mannheim School, with his ""trumpet"" Sinfonia No. 52 in D being a typical example of the late Mannheim form. The grandiose Te Deum, featured on the present CD, is Richter`s second setting of the hymn and was first performed in 1781 in Strasbourg, during the celebrations marking the centenary of the city`s coming under French administration. Along with the motet Exsultate Deo, the piece falls within the composer`s vocal-instrumental oeuvre, which has yet to be explored (and, just as in the case of Jan Dismas Zelenka`s music, contains many unexpected twists and turns). The virtuoso, engrossing and masterfully balanced Oboe Concerto with the original cadenzas represents Richter`s concertante style. Following their premiere recordings of Richter`s Requiem (Supraphon, SU 4177-2) and the Passion oratorio La Deposizione dalla croce di Ges? Cristo (SU 4204-2), the present Czech Ensemble Baroque CD maps another part of the remarkable 18th-century composer`s work. "