On 17 July 2025, the debut CD of a young, ambitious ensemble was released on the prestigious CPO label. The choice of programme is striking and bold: the album is entirely devoted to Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer (ca. 1656–1746), a composer who enjoys little recognition today, but was counted among the leading figures of German Baroque in his time.
A composer between styles
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer was presumably born in Bohemia and pursued a career as Kapellmeister at the court in Baden-Baden. In his works we hear how he reconciles various European influences. The French court style of Jean-Baptiste Lully is clearly audible in his orchestral suites and ballets, while Italian expressivity and virtuosity, familiar from composers such as Arcangelo Corelli, forms a second pillar. This blend is consistently filtered by Fischer through a deep-rooted German contrapuntal tradition.
This makes his oeuvre particularly intriguing: on the one hand elegant and dance-like, on the other hand complex and intellectually challenging. Fischer wrote both instrumental works – such as the collection Le journal du printemps (1695) – and sacred music, including masses and litanies. His keyboard works, with the cycle Ariadne musica (1702), were moreover an important source of inspiration for Johann Sebastian Bach, who may have found the seed there for his Das wohltemperierte Klavier.
A forgotten voice from the Baroque
Despite this impressive legacy, Fischer has largely been overshadowed by his more famous contemporaries. While Georg Muffat, Johann Kuhnau and of course Bach found a place in music history books, Fischer remained a footnote. The ensemble's debut CD aims to change that.
The recording presents a representative programme in which the versatility of Fischer's music is evident. From refined courtly dance forms to powerful polyphonic structures: the listener discovers a composer who does not allow himself to be pinned down to one style or tradition, but rather excels in the synthesis of multiple influences.
Since 17 July, the CD has been available in full via all major digital platforms, including Spotify. For reviewers and editorial staff, a physical copy can be requested if desired, so that Fischer's richness can be enjoyed in optimal sound quality.
Outlook: Zelenka's Te Deum
While the ensemble celebrates its debut, another ambitious step is already planned. On 15 November 2025, they will bring a festive programme to the Begijnhof in Ghent, culminating in Jan Dismas Zelenka's Te Deum (1679–1745). Zelenka too is a composer who was undervalued for a long time, but who has deservedly been restored to honour in recent decades.
Zelenka's music is often described as idiosyncratic, unpredictable and colourful. His counterpoint is particularly inventive and his harmonies surprise again and again with unexpected turns. The Te Deum, a song of praise to God traditionally performed at festive occasions, bursts with vitality and grandeur. It is music that sweeps the listener along in a wave of jubilant song and instrumental power.
Audiovisual project with international reach
The concert in Ghent will also have a special element: the performance will be recorded by the cultural broadcaster Classica Stingray, which is including the project in its programming. In this way, Zelenka's masterpiece will not only be experienced live, but will also find its way digitally to an international audience. In this way, the ensemble is responding to the growing need to make historical music accessible through contemporary media.
Monumental ensemble
To bring this score to life, the ensemble opts for a line-up that does justice to the grandeur of Zelenka's vision. Sixteen professional singers and eighteen instrumentalists – including natural trumpets, oboes and timpani – join forces. The result promises to be a musical firework display in which vocal brilliance and instrumental splendour reinforce each other.
The project is not only artistic, but also financially challenging. The organisers are counting on the support of sympathisers to realise this ambitious plan. Thanks to cooperation with the Roi Baudouin Foundation, it is also possible to contribute in a tax-efficient manner. In this way, every lover of Baroque music can invest in a performance that is both historical and innovative.
Fischer and Zelenka: forgotten masters
That an ensemble couples its debut to Fischer and its follow-up project to Zelenka is no coincidence. Both composers represent a wealth of Baroque music that is still too little heard in concert halls. Fischer, the refined synthesizer-builder, and Zelenka, the idiosyncratic innovative spirit, each show in their own way how broad and versatile European Baroque was.
Their music deserves to be heard – not as a curiosity, but as a full contribution to the musical canon. With the CD and the concert project in Ghent, the ensemble makes a powerful statement: the Baroque still has many treasures to offer, and it is worth the effort to bring them to life with care and passion.