Roaming The Classical Period

Johann Nepomuk Hummel was one of Europe’s most celebrated pianists of his time. His Piano Quintet in E-flat minor, OP. 87 occupies a special place in chamber music around 1800. Its unusual instrumentation served as a model for Schubert’s famous Trout Quintet.

The second composer is Anton Zimmermann, who built career as a composer and Kapellmeister in Pressburg, now Bratislava, during the second half of the eighteenth century. His concerto for Two Bassoons and Orchestra in F major is a fascinating work when it comes to questions of authorship It was attributed to Johann Baptist Vaňhal for many years, but a rediscovered manuscript identifies Zimmermann as the composer. Recent research has even suggested that the two composers may have worked on the piece together.

Two remarkable works from a period in which the Viennese Classical style was in full motion, while Romanticism was slowly emerging on the horizon.

Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778–1837)

1. Piano Quintet in E-flat major, Op. 87
   I. Allegro e risoluto assai
   II. Menuetto – Allegro con fuoco
   III. Largo
   IV. Allegro agitato
   Performers: Nepomuk Fortepiano Quintet – Riko Fuduka, fortepiano; Franc Polman, violin; Elisabeth Smalt, viola; Jan Insinger, cello; Pier Smithuijsen, double bass
   (CD label: Brilliant Classics No. 96901)

Johann Baptist Vaňhal (1739–1813)

1. Sonatina, Op. 2 No. 6 – Allegretto
   Performer: Chiara Tiboni, harpsichord
   (CD label: Brilliant Classics No. 96357)

Anton Zimmermann (1741–1781)

1. Concerto for Two Bassoons and Orchestra in F major
   I. Allegro moderato
   II. Adagio
   III. Allegro
   Performers: Ondřej Šindelař and Sergio Azzolini, bassoons; Rizonanza Praga, conducted by Helena Zemanová
   (CD label: Supraphon No. SU43752)

Additional track:

Johann Baptist Vaňhal (1739–1813)

1. Sonatina, Op. 1 No. 1
   Performer: Chiara Tiboni, harpsichord
   (CD label: Brilliant Classics No. 96357)

Image: Johann Nepomuk Hummel