Leopold Kozeluch, Joseph der Menschheit Segen (Masonic Cantata)

The music of Bohemian Leopold Kozeluch (1747-1818) has undergone something of a revival in recent years. I've covered some of the new issues here (type his name in the index box above for the reviews). His music returns today with a disk devoted in the main to his Masonic Cantata Joseph der Menschheit Segen (Naxos 8.573929). Also included is the very brief "Missa in C," along with several arias and "Klage auf den Todt Marien Theresien." All are World Premiere Recordings and they show off the vocal side of the composer well.

Performances are handled by soprano Simonia Eisinger, speaker Siegfried Gohritz (for the Cantata), harpsichordist Filip Dvorak, the Czech Boy's Choir Boni Pueri under Pavel Horak and the Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice under Marek Stilec.

The compositions are well worth hearing and for the most part the performances come off quite nicely. Unfortunately some of the singers in the Boys Choir have difficulties holding their pitches on the Missa. A pity since otherwise both the program and the performances are illuminating.