Gioseffo

Under the baton of Alessandro de Marchi, long-time Artistic Director of the Innsbrucker Festwochen, this concert offers a musical tribute to Antonio Caldara. At the same time, it pays homage to the vocal soloists who have played a decisive part in shaping the Festival’s artistic identity in recent years.

After completing his training, Antonio Caldara entered the service of King Charles III of Habsburg — later Emperor Charles VI. At the height of his creative powers, he composed the oratorio "Gioseffo che interpreta i sogni" ("Joseph, the Dream Interpreter") at the Viennese court in 1726. The work recounts the Old Testament story of Joseph, who, while in captivity in Egypt, draws the attention of the Pharaoh through his extraordinary gift for dream interpretation.

Librettist Giovanni Battista Neri enriched the biblical narrative by introducing a lyrical narrator. Caldara’s composition fully reflects the refined musical taste of the art-loving Emperor, who esteemed contrapuntal sophistication and the intricate beauty of fugue. Particularly striking is the vivid instrumental palette, which features rare timbres such as the chalumeau and psaltery.