Lukas Peuckmann

This wonderful recording, made in 1982, has truly earned a place in Claves' treasure chest. It was one of the principal reasons for the revival of interest in the music of Franz Krommer, a contemporary of Mozart and Beethoven who quite undeservedly fell into neglect. Two of Switzerland's most eminent soloists, flutist Peter-Lukas Graf and oboist Heinz Holliger, bring this vivacious music to life not only through their instrumental virtuosity, but also as conductors; each in turn directed the English Chamber Orchestra.

Ein glückliches Leben führte sie nicht, die Markgräfin Wilhelmine (1709-1758) von Bayreuth. Als Kind wurde sie von einer geradezu bösartigen Gouvernante gepeinigt und hatte Wutausbrüche ihres Vaters, dem Soldatenkönig Friedrich Wilhelm I., über sich ergehen zu lassen, der so gar nichts vom weiblichen Geschlecht hielt. Wenngleich auch Wilhelmine wie eine Gefangene gehalten wurde, so traf es ihren geliebten Bruder, Kronprinz Friedrich, besonders hart: von seinem Vater verachtet, hatte er sogar unter Festungshaft zu leiden.

Born in Moravia in 1759, Franz Krommer was trained as a violinist and organist. Relatively late in his carrier, in 1975, he settled in Vienna as a violin teacher, but he quickly earned a reputation as a composer, which is evident by the large number of his works published at the time.