Johann Matthias Sperger bass concertos more than novelties
So who was Johannes Matthis Sperger? He was an Austrian contrabassist and a contemporary of Haydn and Beethoven. And he was also a composer. It’s important to make that distinction. At the time, many virtuoso musicians wrote concertos for themselves — some are little more than a series of technical feats strung together.
Sperger wrote concertos for his instrument, but he also composed a lot more. His catalog includes symphonies, cantatas, sonatas, and more.
His double bass concertos are full of technical challenges, but they’re also quite tuneful. And those double stops, runs, and other effects serve to enhance the melody, not detract from it.
Roman Patkoló plays these concertos with enthusiasm. His phrasing, especially in the upper register is wonderfully expressive. The double bass requires a lot of effort to produce a sound (compared to a violin), and the left hand has to cover a lot of real estate.
Nevertheless, Patkoló plays with an agility that belies those challenges. His instrument’s close-mic’d — so we can also hear Patkoló humming along as he plays. For me, that wasn’t a distraction. It just made the performance more authentic and engaging.
Also included is a Sinfonia – one of the forty-two that Sperger wrote. Like Haydn, Sperger knew how to use a motif to build a movement. This symphony may be a little simpler than Haydn’s works, but no less enjoyable.
Johann Matthias Sperger: Double Bass Concertos Nos. 2 & 15
Sinfonia No. 30
Roman Patkoló, double bass
Kurpfälzisches Kammerorchester Mannheim; Johannes Schlaefli, conductor
CPO 555 101-2
