Josef Myslivecek has most frequently been mentioned in connection with W. A. Mozart (who, for a certain time, viewed him as a model and inspiration) and is best known for his operas. At the age of 26, he left Prague for Italy, where four years later, in Naples, he celebrated his first triumph, with the opera Il Bellerofonte (1767). A prolific and gifted composer, Myslivecek also wrote instrumental music, including symphonies and chamber pieces. His first cycle of string quartets was published in Paris in 1768, the final one in Amsterdam, shortly after his death. These works were often performed in extended formations as symphonies. Myslivecek's quartets are characterized by wonderfully refined slow middle movements. Even more unique are his oboe quintets. For a long time, they were only known owing to Leopold Mozart's reference to them in a letter to his son Wolfgang, dated October 1777 - Myslivecek wanted Leopold Mozart to offer his quintets and other pieces to the Archbishop of Salzburg. Only due to the initiative of the performers featured on this album, primarily the oboist Michaela HrabÃ¡nkovÃ¡ and VÃ¡clav DvorÃ¡k, the first violinist of the Dolezal Quartet, have the missing oboe parts for three of the six quintets been retrieved in private collections across Europe. The CD thus contains world premiere recordings of rediscovered Myslivecek works, whose significance is further enhanced by a stylistically sensitive interpretation. Our picture of "Il divino Boemo", whom the renowned music historian Charles Burney ranked alongside such masters as Hasse, Gluck and Haydn, is now more complete - and more beautiful. Previously unheard Myslivecek: newly rediscovered oboe quintets

Tracklist:

Quintet No. 1 in B flat major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~I. Allegro
Quintet No. 1 in B flat major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~II. Larghetto
Quintet No. 1 in B flat major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~III. Tempo di minuetto
String Quartet in F major, Op. 3~I. Allegro
String Quartet in F major, Op. 3~II. Andante
String Quartet in F major, Op. 3~III. Presto assai
String Quartet in A major Op. 3~I. Allegro
String Quartet in A major Op. 3~II. Larghetto
String Quartet in A major Op. 3~III. Presto
Quintet No. 2 in D major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~I. Vivace
Quintet No. 2 in D major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~II. Largo
Quintet No. 2 in D major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~III. Rondo. Allegretto con espressione
String Quartet in G major / Op. Posth, No. 5~I. Allegro con spirito
String Quartet in G major / Op. Posth, No. 5~II. Minuetto
String Quartet in G major / Op. Posth, No. 5~III. Presto assai
Quintet No. 3 in F major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~I. Allegro
Quintet No. 3 in F major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~II. Larghetto
Quintet No. 3 in F major for oboe, two violins, viola and cello~III. Presto

UPC: 099925428921
Label: Supraphon
Release Date: 12.18.20
Format: CD

Myslivecek / Dolezal Quartet / Hrabankova - Oboe Quintets / String Quartets (CD)