Pablo Heras-Casado
With his latest recording, 'Praetorius,' the Spanish conductor Pablo Heras-Casado demonstrates his ability to reinterpret the rarely heard works of the three Praetorius composers—a collection of Magnificats and motets from the transitional period of German sacred music. These compositions by Michael, Hieronymus, and Jakob Praetorius unite soundscapes reminiscent of Giovanni Gabrieli and Heinrich Schütz. Although Heras-Casado is known for his broad repertoire, ranging from Mendelssohn and Schumann to Verdi and Weill, the choral music of this era has long fascinated him. The recordings were made in 2014 with the Balthasar Neumann Choir and the Balthasar Neumann Ensemble in the Deutschlandfunk Chamber Music Hall in Cologne.