Wagenseil: Symphonies

When Charles Burney came to Vienna in 1772, he asked what other great musicians Vienna had to offer besides Hasse, Gluck and Wagenseil. Vienna had to offer besides Hasse, Gluck and Wagenseil. The imperial court composer and court piano master Georg Christoph Wagenseil (1715-1777) had such a reputation during his lifetime. Unfortunately, as with so many of his contemporaries, this has changed today. The shadows of Haydn and Mozart darken much of what once stood in the bright light. Our cpo pre-classical edition has probably already brought many a valuable work to light! Wagenseil was certainly the most important representative of Viennese musical life before the great age of Viennese Classicism. As Maria Theresa's personal music teacher, he had a formative influence on musical taste at court. But his works - especially his symphonies - were also highly appreciated and successfully published in London and Paris. Michi Gaigg and her L'Orfeo Barockorchester have now recorded 5 of these magnificent Sturm und Drang works for us, revealing a new jewel in the crown of pre-classical music. In our reference-worthy recording even with Viennese local color, when the harpsichord is replaced by a distinctive hammered dulcimer (nomen non est omen!).