Spanish Passions
In the second half of the 17th century, Spain, once so powerful, became the plaything of the European powers. The conflicts culminated in the War of the Spanish Succession, which ended the Habsburg rule that had lasted for almost 200 years and brought the Bourbons to the throne. Politically a vassal of neighboring France, economically despite the wealth of the American colonies at the end, the country became more and more culturally isolated. But as is so often the need released unexpected creative forces. The Zarzuela was created, a Spanish folk opera which enjoyed great popularity and in whose long breaks various performances entertained the audience. The cantatas on this CD are all in some way connected to theatre music. Even though there are no exact connections with individual Zarzuelas to be proved, the music and the dramatic treatment of the lyrics clearly point to a relationship with the stage. The artistic music often refers to the important Spanish tradition and makes these Cantadas de pasión into stylistically often conservative, but musically quite refined works of art.

• Sebastian Duron: Ay, que me abraso de amor en la llama; Ay de mi, que el llanto y la tristeza; El Picaro de Cupido; Pues me pierdo; Corazon, causa teneis
  +Juan Lima de Serqueira; Queria Cupido; Todo es amor
  +Gaspar Sanz: Preludio y Pasacalle; Canarios
  +Juan Hidalgo: Ay, amor
  +Juan Cabanilles: Tiento de falsas XII
  +Juan de Navas: Ay, divino amor
  +Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz: Paradetas
  +Jose Marin: No se yo como es
  +Matias Veana: Ay, amor
  +Anonymus: Nina, si encontrares a Cupido; Todo eres contradicciones (ca. 1700)