When Jan Dismas Zelenka died, 250 years ago, no one mourned. Overlooked, undervalued, with no family and few, if any, friends, he was destined to slip into total anonymity for the next 200 years. His works, however, deserve to be rescued from obscurity. There are some 130 pieces of sacred music, large and small, masses, requiems, psalms and magnificats; and, to be cherished, only six chamber works, sonatas for two oboes, bassoon and double-bass/continuo. They are amazing works: dramatic, emotional and on a grand scale.

Asymmetrical themes, eccentric, sliding chromaticism and intense dissonance create a tension far removed from the everyday pleasantries of music by minor Baroque composers. These wonderful works are performed by six soloists of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, an ensemble founded in 1981 and now regarded as one of the finest orchestras in the world.