KROMMER: Concertino in E Flat for Flute, Clarinet, Violin and Chamber
Ensemble, Op 70; Symphony #1 in F, Op 12 (first recordings)

Magdalena Bilkova-Tumova (flute); Jan Budin (clarinet) ; Bohuslav
Matousek (violin); Berg Chamber Orchestra/Peter Vrabel

Studio Matous 0003-2  TT = 63:37  DDD

My first encounter with the music of Franz Krommer (aka Frantisek Kramar
and other variants) (1759-1831) was through an old recording of his
best-known clarinet concerto, a work of bubbling good humour and highly
attractive writing for the soloist.  Since then, I've added to my
collection other concertos for clarinet, concertos for two clarinets and
for oboe, two symphonies from the Chandos Contemporaries of Mozart series,
and a number of partitas for wind ensemble.  All of them are very genial
works and give the impression that Krommer led an unusually happy life.

And so it is with the works on this CD. The concertino has five movements
and runs about 34 minutes, so is not very aptly named.  The solo instruments
are given equal prominence and the unusual solo group makes this a more
than interesting concerto of the period.  The recording is very forward,
which may not be to all tastes, but certainly appeals to me.  The symphony
shows clear influences of Haydn and Beethoven, among others, but with
some interesting little touches of orchestration and instrumental
spotlighting that appear to be part of Krommer's style.  It's a very
attractive CD.

I hadn't come across this label before, but it has quite an interesting
catalogue, mainly of music by Czech composers (www.matous.cz).  I bought
my copy from Musica Bona (www.musicabona.com).

Richard Pennycuick
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