- Jean-Baptiste Vanhal (1739-1813)
Johann Baptist Vanhal [1739 - 1813] was a very productive composer and
yet we merely know one oboe, one Clarinet and two bassoon concerts.
This compact disc combines those three “unica” alongw ith one of his
three bassoon concerts. Born in Bohemia he found his field of activity
in Vienna, where he became a highly appreciated composer violinist and
teacher In his youth he not only learned playing violin but also several
wind instruments, which probably explains his predilection for so many
solo parts for woodwindinstruments in his concerts. His symphonies are
full of passages composed for woodwindplayers (e.g. oboe) accompanied by
the orchestra. He produced this also in the slow parts of his clarinet
in B flat, where the strings accompany the solo clarinet. Although
sometimes described as a not very original composer he shows a special
liking for experimenting with unusual tone colours and exceptional
combinations.
Luc Loubry bassoon
François Baptiste bassoon
Michel Lethiec clarinet
Piet Van Bockstal oboe
The Prussian Chamber Orchestra
Hans Rotman conductor