Dresden has always been a place forcelebration, both in the golden Baroqueera and today. Only recently didHartmut Haenchen, who was born inthe Saxon city on the River Elbe,celebrate his 70th birthday in anatmosphere of sympathetic publicapproval. The Berlin Classics label hasalready released many of his recordings– quite a number of them made with hisCarl Philipp Emanuel Bach ChamberOrchestra, which he has been directingfor over thirty years. The tradition iscontinued in honour of his birthday withthe present recording that centresround a suitably festive theme.Dresden was also the place where thecomposer Johann David Heinichen(1683 ? 1729) worked as Kapellmeisterat the court of August the Strong,Elector of Saxony. Heinichen composedthe Serenata "La Gara degli Dei" (thecontest of the gods) for celebrations tomark the marriage of August's sonFriedrich August II and Maria Josepha,daughter of Emperor Joseph of Austria.The great political significance of thisnew union between the houses ofSaxony and Habsburg explains theexpansive dimensions of thecelebrations, which lasted nearly amonth! Each god was assigned a day ofthe week and Heinichen's open?airserenade was not simply a homage tothe royal couple sung by the variousgods, but simultaneously a preambleand introduction to the entireprogramme of events to mark thehappy occasion.The original manuscript is kept at theSLUB (Saxon State and University Library)in Dresden, and Hartmut Haenchen,who had already edited this particularwork as a fifteen?year?old, performed itwith distinguished soloists and hischamber orchestra on November 23,2003 at the Konzerthaus in Berlin. The27?piece orchestra faithfully followedthe original score thanks to copies ofthe original copperplate manuscript.The recording of this event byDeutschlandradio Kultur is nowpresented for the first time as apremiere recording on CD.The originality and inspired nature ofthis music, which was considered avantgardein its time, is still able to this dayto astound listeners. This is withoutdoubt an exceptional and outstandingwork by the Dresden master of theBaroque, which is well worthdiscovering. Alongside the song textswith explanations, the booklet containsan introduction to the work plus inputfrom Hartmut Haenchen about his workwith his chamber orchestra. The resultis a suitably tasteful CD to mark aspecial occasion!

Alexandra Coku soprano (Venere)

Carola Höhn soprano (Mercurio)

Simone Nold soprano (Diana)

Katharina Kammerloher mezzo?soprano (Il Sole

)Annette Markert alto (Marte)

Ralph Eschrig tenor (Saturno)

Olaf Bär bariton (Giove)

Kammerorchester Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

Hartmut Haenchen conductor