Leave it to the classical music biz to issue three discs of Kalliwoda orchestral music at exactly the same time! Between Orfeo, CPO, and this newcomer, we now have four of his seven symphonies available in excellent performances (a previous release of Symphonies Nos. 5 and 6 on Centaur isn’t at the same level as these). The four works on the present release give a fine idea of the composer’s wide-ranging inventiveness and ready appeal. The Overture Op. 145 (No. 12 out of a total of 24) was composed around 1843 and has a main theme with almost exactly the same shape as that of the first-movement allegro of Schumann’s Spring Symphony. It’s an ebullient, celebratory work that also contains a popular anthem related to its dedicatee: you can check out the booklet notes if you’re curious.

Compositeur et violoniste virtuose Tchèque, né en 1801 et mort en 1866, Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda joua dans l’orchestre de Ständetheater de Prague que dirigeait Carl Maria von Weber. C’est peu dire de ses compétences musicales… Il fut par la suite un chef d’orchestre recherché pour la rigueur et la musicalité de sa direction. Côté musique, il laisse une œuvre abondante dans tous les genres musicaux mais c’est surtout sa musique de chambre qui retient l’attention.

This CD is probably unique. The oboe was relegated in the romantic age as the clarinet gained favour. So there are few chamber works for oboe from this period, and those that exist are rarely recorded. But to have several of these pieces on one disc and played so well on period instruments makes this a real treat. The instruments are an 1850 Triebert oboe and Erard pianoforte. These are not so different technically from their modern counterparts, but in these musicians' hands they deliver a warm, distinctive sound that would be hard to emulate with modern instruments.