Ensemble dolce risonanza

Theaters are traditionally closed on Good Friday. Even in the 17th century, overly secular entertainment was forbidden during the Passion season. But what if the emperor and his family still wanted to be entertained?

Around 1640, a special form of oratorio emerged at the Viennese court, called "Rapressentazione sacra al Santissimo Sepolcro" (Singing of the Death and Dying of Jesus Christ at the "Holy Sepulchre") or Sepolcro for short, after its special performance setting.

This form of Passion oratorio became, under Emperor Leopold I. This form of Passion oratorio became part of the court ceremonial of Holy Week under Emperor Leopold I and served as a contemplative entertainment. For the year 1677, Johann Heinrich Schmelzer, then Vice-Kapellmeister of the Vienna Hofmusikkapelle, even composed a sepolcro in German, "Stärcke der Lieb". The score became part of the emperor's famous bedchamber library and has been preserved in the Austrian National Library. It even contains an interlude aria composed by Leopold I himself.

Now the Viennese original sound ensemble dolce risonanza is bringing this musical gem back to the Hofburg.