With the 2-CD set Opera Omnia XVII, Ton Koopman and the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra approach the end of their critically-acclaimed project to record all of Dieterich Buxtehude’s vocal and instrumental works; there are only two further recordings to come. This recording is the series’ eighth release of vocal music and includes a selection of hymn settings and sacred arias, sung by soloists and the Amsterdam Baroque Choir.

The music in this selection includes pieces like “O Clemens, o mitis” which are based on Latin works, alongside settings of Lutheran hymn texts like Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme”. The pietist movement became prominent in later 17th-century Lutheran Germany and several lyrical texts set by Buxtehude reflect this leaning toward reflective individual piety. “Meine Seele, willtu ruhn” (BuxWV 74) and “O Gottes Stadt, o güldnes Licht” (BuxWV 87) represent particularly prominent examples of sacred arias.

Ton Koopman is one of the world’s foremost early music specialists and directors. His recording of the complete Bach Cantatas on Challenge Classics received worldwide acclaim. As president of the International Dieterich Buxtehude Society, Ton Koopman is considered to be one of the world’s leading authorities on his music.