The third concerto by Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Benda was likely composed after 1790, a conclusion drawn from the watermark on the manuscript paper, which dates between 1790 and 1803.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The Benda family's music, especially that of Franz and Georg Anton, was as popular in their time as the works of Joseph Haydn or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Historical Context
The Benda family, originally from Bohemia, moved to Prussia in 1742 at the request of Frederick the Great and remained connected to the royal court for about a century.
Recording & Production
The recording of these concertos was supported by the SWR (Südwestrundfunk) and its orchestra management, including François-Xavier Roth and Reinhard Oechsler.
Composer Biography
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Benda, the composer of the viola concertos on this album, was born in 1745 and died in 1814; he was the son of Franz Benda and nephew of Georg Benda.
Compositional Technique
Friedrich Wilhelm Heinrich Benda's viola concertos feature virtuoso passages that demonstrate his masterful command of contemporary viola technique.
Performer Biography
Jean-Eric Soucy, the violist on this recording, is the principal violist with the Radio Symphony Orchestra Stuttgart and has a reputation as a soloist and chamber musician in Europe and North America.
