"Within a decade of taking up his post as Thomaskantor in Leipzig in 1723, Bach was becoming ever more frustrated with the Saxon city's civic politics. Never one to compromise, he had clashed with the authorities almost from the word go. In August 1730 complaints that he had been neglecting his duties led him to submit a 'brief but highly necessary draft of a well-appointed church music' to the Leipzig council. Inter alia, he pointed out that he did...

"The performances of the Missa solemnis at the styriarte Festival in Graz and at the Salzburg Festival in summer 2015 were Nikolaus Harnoncourt's last concerts. After his retirement from the stage later that year, it was Mr. Harnoncourt's express wish that this album, made from the material captured at the Graz concerts and rehearsals, also be his last released recordings. Beethoven's late masterpiece has thus become the final chapter of an unparalleled...

Includes carols, hymns and spirituals, 1770-1870.