This disc is number 15 in The Contemporaries of Mozart Series Contemporaries of Mozart Series. Though little known today, Wranitzky played a prominent role in...

This disc is number 15 in The Contemporaries of Mozart Series Contemporaries of Mozart Series. Though little known today, Wranitzky played a prominent role in the musical life of Vienna. Music Director for Count Johann Baptist Esterházy and director of the newly formed orchestra of the Kärntnerthorteater in Vienna, the composer was friends with Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. Haydn insisted that Wranitzky conduct performances in 1799 and 1800 of his oratorio 'Die Schöpfung'. At Beethoven's request he conducted the première of that composer's First Symphony. During his lifetime, Wranitzky's reputation as a composer was considerable. His compositions comprise of over twenty stage works, including ten operas; fifty-one symphonies; at least fifty-six string quartets; and a large amount of other orchestral and chamber music. His music reflects most of the stylistic trends of the classical period: the symphonies usually have four movements in the traditional order, most often with a slow introduction; the slow movements demonstrate a cantabile character; his minuets and rondos often display folk-like elements. Wranitzky's symphonies, composed between 1786 and 1805 are characterized by their perceptive and masterful scoring. Recorded in: All Saints' Church, Tooting, London 28 & 29 January 2001 Producer(s) Ralph Couzens Sound Engineer(s) Jonathan Cooper Christopher Brooke (Assistant)