The final concert of the Days of Early Music 2025 (Saturday 14th June at 7 p.m.) will feature a unique performance of the complete cycle Geistliche Harmonien I (1659) by the Baroque composer Samuel Capricornus. This remarkable work will be performed in the historical setting of the Church of the Most Holy Savior in Bratislava by the renowned ensemble Le nuove musiche, led by artistic director Jakub Mitrík.

The year 2025 marks the 360th anniversary of the death of Samuel Capricornus, a significant figure in the history of Baroque music who also worked in the city of Pressburg, today's Bratislava. This commemorative concert thus carries both artistic and historical weight, as Capricornus's early career is closely linked to the city where the concert will take place.

Samuel Capricornus – Bratislava and the Baroque Era

Samuel Capricornus (1628–1665), born Samuel Friedrich Bockshorn, was one of the most important composers of the second half of the 17th century. Although originally from Bohemia, his professional and artistic development is closely associated with Bratislava, where he served as a musician for the Lutheran church. He later became Kapellmeister in Württemberg.

Capricornus’s music is marked by a synthesis of concertato style and polyphonic writing, blending the lyricism of Italian vocal music with the contrapuntal techniques favored in German-speaking regions. His collection Geistliche Harmonien represents one of the most significant sacred vocal cycles of its time in Central Europe.

Le nuove musiche and Guests

The ensemble Le nuove musiche is devoted to historically informed performance of 17th-century music on period instruments. The group focuses on lesser-known composers and rare repertoire. In 2024, under the leadership of Jakub Mitrík, the ensemble recorded a world premiere of chamber music from the Austrian monastery of Kremsmünster. Le nuove musiche regularly performs in the Slovak Philharmonic and at international festivals throughout Central Europe.

The concert will feature four vocal soloists, each with a strong background in both concert and operatic performance:

• Hilda Gulyás (soprano) – a specialist in sacred and Baroque music, active in numerous vocal ensembles and festivals, also a music educator

• Jarmila Vantuchová (mezzo-soprano) – a sought-after soloist in Baroque and classical repertoire, with engagements across Europe in opera and concert

• Matúš Šimko (tenor) – a rising talent in early and sacred music, appearing regularly with leading Slovak and international ensembles

• Tomáš Šelc (baritone) – an experienced performer with a broad repertoire, member of prestigious European vocal groups, and award-winning soloist

They will be joined by an outstanding group of instrumentalists:
Peter Spišský (Baroque violin – special guest), Ján Kružliak (Baroque violin), Mauro Colantonio (viola da gamba), Martin Gedeon (organ and harpsichord), and Jakub Mitrík (chitarrone).

A Musical Highlight of the Year

This concert presents a rare opportunity to hear the complete Geistliche Harmonien I performed in Slovakia for the first time. With authentic instruments and informed interpretation, the concert will offer listeners a deep and moving experience of Baroque sacred music—combining spiritual intensity, melodic beauty, and intricate counterpoint.

The closing evening of the Days of Early Music 2025 thus becomes not only a musical celebration but also a reflection of Bratislava’s rich connection to European music history. The concert is free and open to all who wish to explore the beauty of forgotten music and the legacy of extraordinary composers from our cultural past.

Updated: 13. 06. 2025