Pianist/composer Anton Eberl was a contemporary of Beethoven and a student of Mozart. Some of Eberl’s works were misattributed to Mozart, and that’s not surprising. As this new release shows, Eberl’s style is quite similar to Mozart’s. But not quite identical (a lot of the misattribution was done by unscrupulous publishers). The two sonatas for […]
CPO
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Franz Krommer Symphonies Inspired by Beethoven
This is the second volume of Krommer symphonies from Griffiths and the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana. The first volume covered Krommer’s first three symphonies. This release features three symphonies; only two of which were published. Franz Krommer was based in Vienna, a younger contemporary of Ludwig van Beethoven. Krommer’s 1819 Symphony No. 4 in C […]
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CPE Bach: Grosse Festkantaten – Simply Grand
It seems appropriate that these festival cantatas would be revived (and recorded) for a festival. The 300th anniversary of Carl Philipp Emanual (CPE) Bach’s birth prompted a music festival in Leipzig. The two cantatas on this release had not been performed since the occasions they were written for. “Ich will dem Herrn lobsingen” was written […]
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Carl Abel Symphonies Op. 1 and Op. 4
Carl Abel was a student of Johann Sebastian Bach and a business partner with his son Johann Christian. His music shares some of the qualities of the “London” Bach. The works on this collection come from two publications. Abel’s Opus 1 was published in 1760, his Opus 4 two years later. Both sets feature short, […]
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Georg Schumann – a Post-Wagner composer?
This is the first time I’ve heard the music of Georg Schumann — but not the first time CPO’s released it. This recording is the fourth of G. Schumann’s music. Previously, CPO’s released his first symphony, a disc of lieder, and one of chamber music. Georg Schumann (no relation to Robert), was the longtime […]
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Christian Westerhoff Concertos – Great Music from the Hinterlands
Sometimes location matters. Based on the quality of his music, I think Christian Wilhelm Westerhoff (1763-1806) might have had a notable career in Vienna. Instead, he served at the court of Count Ludwig Wilhelm of Bentheim, one of the minor Hanoverian nobility. Because he remained in the hinterlands, his music remained relatively unknown. Until now. […]
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Tatjana Ruhland Elevates Reinecke Compositions
Sometimes it isn’t the music so much as the performer. The music is by Carl Reinecke, whose legacy lives on more through his pupils than his music. During his academic career, he taught Edvard Grieg, Leoš Janácek, Isaac Albéniz, Felix Weingartner, and Max Bruch, to name but a few. Of all his 300+ compositions, he’s best […]
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Wenzel Heinrich Veit String Quartets, Vol. 1 – an individual voice
Robert Schumann had this to say of Wenzel Heinrich Veit’s music: The form of this quartet contains nothing unusual, there is no boldness or originality, but it is proper and shows a well-trained hand. Both the harmony and the individual voices are worthy of high praise. I think the first part of that assessment’s a […]
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Praetorius Lutherische Choralkonzerte – Models of Christian Clarity
This release is part of CPO’s “Music from Wolfenbüttel Castle” series. And in this case, it’s especially fitting. It was at Wolfenbüttel that Michael Praetorius served Henry Julius, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg. Praetorius served as court organist and composer. When Frederick Ulrich succeeded Julius, Praetorius remained. He was buried Wolfenbüttel. Julius and Ulrich were staunch Lutherans, […]