Antonio Cartellieri continues to be by and large unknown, even though his oratorio Gioas, Re di Giuda is of the sort of depth that one might expect from a contemporary of Beethoven. In fact Beethoven himself played the viola at the premiere of Cartellieri’s oratorio.

This recording brings together an all-star European cast: the Consortium Classicum member Gernot Schmalfuß, Thomas Quasthoff (Giojada) and Katharina Kammerloher (Gioas).

Cartellieri's version of the Gioas story draws on the text of a biblical drama by the famous librettist Metastasio. The infant Gioas (English: Jehoash/Joash) is saved from the massacre carried out by the rebellious Atalia and her troops. He is anointed king by the oppressed people at the age of seven and ascends to the throne as King of Judah. Atalia suffers a fit of madness and is murdered.