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Only few connoisseurs can say without hesitation who preceded Heinrich Schutz as Dresden's Court Conductor. The man's name was Rogier Michael who was born in Mons (Belgium) and was one of the last representatives of the Franco-Flemish school of vocal polyphony, that was sought after throughout Europe. In the meantime, Italy was setting the tone and older composers had to rethink their ways. Michaels succeeded in doing so. Among other things, his catalogue of works, which is not exactly huge, includes an innovative Weihnachtshistorie (1602), which was performed at the Dresden court for 50 (!) years - an all the more astonishing occurrence, as this music is by no means ostentatious. Combining the devotional purity with appropriate contemporary vocal and instrumental movements, a clear simplicity emerges. And so the Christmas Vespers of 1624, which the Ensemble Polyharmonique presents here, is still enchanting today.
