Euler

Thanks to recordings such as this one, the figure of Johann Wilhelm Wilms (1772-1847) is increasingly coming into focus and prominence as a notable contemporary of Beethoven who deserves better than his previous obscurity. In 1807, the Allgemeine musikalische Zeitung described the Wilms as ‘one of the most ingenious, spirited, and best educated artists’ of his generation: a judgment borne out by the this trio of high-spirited chamber works.

Gregor Joseph Werner (1693-1766), a major figure at the birth of Viennese classicism, has until now remained in the shadow of music history. His rich compositional art was directly rooted in the late baroque style, whilst also drawing from much earlier sources as well as pointing far ahead into the romantic era. Firmly anchored in the great contrapuntal tradition, Werner underpins the gripping progressivity and expressivity of his tonal language.