Vanhal

Johann Baptist Vanhal was a Viennese contemporary of Haydn and Mozart, admired by both, and regarded as their peer in his own time. Yet the rediscovery of the wider picture of composition in the late 18th century has largely bypassed him. His symphonies of the 1770s are fine examples of the Sturm und Drang trend and were in several respects stylistically out in front of Haydn's and Mozart's contributions to the genre. The same can't be said of the three works here, published in 1784 and claimed to be piano quintets.

The G minor Symphony, the second of Vanhal’s symphonies in that key, is an absolute delight, full of good ideas The C minor Symphony (1770) is also a work of originality Matthias Bamert and the London Mozart Players give an excellent account of themselves, and are recorded with clarity and warmth.

Like so many Bohemian composers, the eastern Bohemian Johann Baptist Vanhal had moved to Vienna early in his career and can thus be viewed as a member of the select core of composers consisting of Haydn, Salieri, Mozart and Beethoven, to whom we owe Viennese classicism. The Missa Solemnis is noteworthy not just for it's quality and opulence, but surprises the listener above all with three prolonged concert solo arias. The works are beautifully performed on this release by soloists Natalia Melnik and Marta Benackova, as well as the Prager Kammerchor and Prager Kammerorchester.

Johann Baptist Vanhal numbers among the most productive composers of the eighteenth century. Among other works, seventy-seven symphonies and sixty solo concertos by him are documented. He was for quite some time, especially before the works of Haydn and Mozart became more widely known, one of the most popular and even one of the most renowned instrumental composers in Germany.

Johann Baptist Vaňhal was one of Haydn’s most important contemporaries. His symphonies in particular were widely admired throughout Europe, with music historian Dr Charles Burney reporting that Vaňhal’s symphonies were known in England before those of Haydn. The finely wrought works in this recording include the Symphony in F minor, considered one of his best in this genre, and the Symphony in C which was highly popular in its day. All of these works illustrate Vaňhal’s sophisticated mastery of musical structure, imaginative handling of the orchestra, and a profusion of memorable themes.

Three attractive and lively concertos by two exact 18th-century contemporaries (they were both born in 1739) the Viennese Dittersdorf and the Bohemian Vanhal who on at least one occasion played string quartets with Mozart and Haydn. (Haydn and Dittersdorf played violins; Mozart played viola; Vanhal the cello.) This seems to be the only recorded pairing of the two Dittersdorf concertos.

Klaus Trumpf performs classical works for double bass: Jan Krtitel Vanhal's Concerto for Double-bass and Orchestra in D Major; Johannes Matthias Sperger's Sonata for Double-bass and Piano in D Major and Quartet for Double-bass, Flute, Viol and Violoncello in D Major on this 1998 German release of recordings made in 1984.

Following on from her debut album impressions, featuring chamber music for bassoon and piano, bassoon player Sophie Dervaux is poised to release her second album on the Berlin Classics label. This album marks two premieres: in addition to this being the very first recording of the Concerto no. 2 in C major for bassoon and orchestra by Johann Baptist Vanhal, Ms Dervaux performs as both soloist and conductor of the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg.

Canadian bassist David Sinclair's new CD is an outstanding release, musically, technically and historically. Featuring three concertos from the second half of the eighteenth century, it is the first recording of the Hofmeister Concerto and first recording of the Vanhal on Viennese violine (Lars Baunkilde recorded the Pichl on Viennese violine in 1997). It is superbly recorded in Super Audio (surely the first solo bass CD in this format) on Annette Schumacher's wonderful Ars Produktion label. The balance has been carefully considered in every movement and the accompaniment from fellow bassist and conductor Michael Willens directing the Cologne-based ensemble Kölner Akademie is sensitive and supportive.