GRAUN: Concertos

Ghielmi, Vittorio, Haselböck, Martin, Korol, Ilja, Sepec, Daniel, Wiener Akademie

CPO 999887

During his lifetime, Johann Gottlieb Graun - brother of Carl Heinrich Graun - was the epitome of a famous musician, both as a gifted violinist and a "fiery instrumental composer." He was concertmaster of the Prussian court orchestra until his death and led the orchestra at the court concerts. And it is for these concerts that he seems to have composed most of his instrumental works. The "Sinfonia Grosso" for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 3 trumpets, timpani strings and b. c. that introduces our CD is considered one of Graun's best symphonies. The musicologist Carl Mennicke even speaks of it as surpassing "all of Graun's other symphonies in conciseness of expression and strength of melodic feeling". And in the two concertos for solo violin, 2 violins, viola and b. c. and in the rather rarely chosen genre of the viola da gamba concerto, Graun is again completely in his element: violin and viola da gamba parts full of technical-virtuoso finesse, rhythmically igniting formulations and lively, energetic thematic work.

Works:

•Graun, J G: Concerto in A major for Viola da Gamba
•Graun, J G: Sinfonia Grosso in D Major
•Graun, J G: Violin Concerto in A Major
•Graun, J G: Violin Concerto in D Minor

CD x 1

CPO

11/23/07

761203988723