Composer: Franz Xaver Dussek
Performer: Aapo Häkkinen
Orchestra: Helsinki Baroque Orchestra
Conductor:
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 1
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Naxos
Size: 993 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
Sinfonia in G Major, Altner G4
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Andante
03. III. Presto
Sinfonia in B-Flat Major, Altner Bb2
04. I. Allegro con spirito
05. II. Andante
06. III. Allegro assai
Sinfonia in A Major, Altner A3
07. I. Largo maestoso – Allegro
08. II. Andante
09. III. Allegro assai
Sinfonia in B-Flat Major, Altner Bb3
10. I. Allegro e vivo
11. II. Andante
12. III. Minuetto – Trio
13. IV. Allegro assai
Helsinki Baroque Orchestra
Aapo Häkkinen
Recorded: 1-3 October 2010
Recording Venue: Sello Concert Hall, Espoo, Finland
Mozart’s friend Franz Xaver Dussek (in whose summer villa he completed Don Giovanni) was a pianist, celebrated teacher and the leading composer of instrumental music in Prague. Like his compatriot Vanhal, Dussek completed his musical training in Vienna and, unsurprisingly, his works reflect the strong influence of composers such as Hofmann, Haydn and Dittersdorf. Dussek’s symphonies, most of which appear to have been composed in the 1760s and 1770s, are works of great charm and vivacity, cleverly orchestrated and full of striking melodic ideas as this recording amply demonstrates.
Häkkinen directs from a fortepiano, appropriately so. He uses it to decoarte lines and enhance tonal colour, eschewing the infuriating anachronism of emphasising harmonic rhythm…[in the Andante of Bb3, Häkkinen] inspires his musicians into a softly atmospheric evocation of pastoral spaciousness interspersed with shadows of gentle agitation. Excellent.