Michal Kanka, František Host, Jiri Hudec, Jaroslav Tuma Josef Mysliveček: Sonate a Due Violoncelli e Basso

Bohemian composer, remarkable violinist, Josef Mysliveček (1737-1781) was born close to Prague. Son of a miller, destined to follow the destiny of his father, it is nevertheless towards music that he turns, trained in his native town and encouraged by the enthusiastic reception of his first symphonies. He obtained a scholarship to Venice and migrated to Italy where his fame grew (he was nicknamed Il divino Boemo - The divine Czech), notably thanks to the success of his first opera, Semiramide, in 1766.

Recordings of sonatas for two cellos and continuo are, one assumes, thin on the ground, so anyone looking for some will doubtless welcome this release. Josef Mysliveeek's sonatas (mostly transcriptions of existing works) are elegant enough exemplars of the early classical style, and are certainly well played here. I am not sure who would care to listen to them for an hour, to be honest, but it is quite fun to hear the eggshell-treading heroics of the continuo double-bass.'