Vienna was one of the most brilliant cities of 17th and 18th century Europe, thanks to the enlightened patronage of the Habsburg monarchy. The title Alla Turca references Fux’ Partita in C major, “Turcaria”, a suite of dances extracted from the collection Concentus musico-instrumentalis published in 1701. Dedicated to Joseph I, The Turcaria bears the sub-title Musical portrait of the Siege of Vienna by the Turks in 1683.

Alla Turca features the radiant German soprano Monika Mauch and celebrates the music of the Austrian court during the reign of Charles VI. The program includes instrumental and vocal music by three prolific composers of the period: Johann Joseph Fux, Antonio Caldara, and Carlo Agostino Badia, whose cantata La Fenice receives its world premier recording. Montréal’s Ensemble Caprice joins Mauch in interpreting these church sonatas, dance suites and cantatas under the direction of Matthias Maute.