The overtures on this album are not presented in chronological order but are arranged in a palindromic sequence, mainly by key, with the grand overture to the opera Aeneas i Cartago as the E-flat centerpiece.
Performer Biography
Gemma Longoni, the concertmaster, has held the position of concertmaster and section leader in the European Union Baroque Orchestra (EUBO) and is currently a member of the Geneva Camerata Orchestra (GECA).
Interpretation
The Theresia Orchestra is an international youth orchestra that specializes in performing classical repertoire on period instruments.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Joseph Martin Kraus, the composer, viewed the overture as an integral part of the work, using it to set the mood and foreshadow emotions in dramatic pieces, and to display humor in comic ones.
Compositional Technique
Kraus often used a monothematic structure in his overtures, which allowed for internal variation and shifting harmonic colors.
Performer Biography
Claudio Astronio, the conductor, is a versatile musician who also performs as an organist and harpsichordist, and has interests in jazz and musical fusions.
