MusicNew Music Reviews

Benda/ Pichl/ Vranický Violin Concertos
Gabriela Demeterová – Violin
Prague Chamber Orchestra
SUPRAPHON SU3977-2

This is a welcome addition for any classical radio station, three (previously unrecorded) violin concertos from three vastly talented Czech composers of the 18th century. The concertos are quite different to then popular Italian tradition although all three composers had to travel widely to pursue their musical careers as instrumentalists and composers.

František Benda (1709-1786) came from a famous Czech musical family and held posts as a violinist in Prague, Dresden, Vienna, Ruppin and Potsdam. In compositional terms his style was extremely original and independent of the Italian style.

Václav Pichl (1741-1805) held many important posts in Europe and he spend 21 years in Milan as the chapel-master of Archduke Ferdinand. His compositional style can be characterized as early Viennese Classicism with a number of Gallant elements. He is said to have composed over 900 works, the majority of which were destroyed in a fire when the French army attacked Lombardy.

Antonín Vranický (1761-1820) became a renowned Viennese composer and studied composition with Mozart, Haydn and Albrechtsberger. His compositions are very much in the style of High Classicism but some of his concertos show distinct features of early Romanticism.

Gabriela Demeterová has a beautiful and assured tone, together with the Prague Chamber Orchestra they produce a masterful interpretation of these concertos. The repertoire is accessible, fresh and well worth purchasing.

by Mike Ford