Josef Mysliveček: Sonate a Due Violoncelli e Basso

Featuring

Michal Kaňka
František Host
Jiří Hudec
Jaroslav Tůma
Josef Mysliveček

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Composer Biography

Josef Mysliveček, the composer, was born in 1737 as the son of a miller and even became a master miller himself in 1761 before fully dedicating himself to music.

Composer Biography

Mysliveček was nicknamed 'Il divino Boemo' (The Divine Bohemian) or 'Il Venatorini' by the public after the success of his opera Il Bellerofonte in Naples in 1767.

Composer Biography

Mysliveček met the young Mozart in Bologna in 1770 and again in Munich in 1777; his oratorio Abramo ed Isacco was even attributed to Mozart for a while.

Composition History

The Six Sonatas for two cellos and basso continuo are believed to be transcriptions made in Rome from earlier works, commissioned by a virtuoso patron.

Composer Biography

Mysliveček's career declined after he contracted syphilis and a facial surgery left him disfigured, causing him to lose public favor.

Instruments

Michal Kanka, one of the cellists on this recording, plays an instrument made in 1710 by Giovanni Grancino of Milan.

Composition History

These sonatas were recently brought to light and published by Jaroslav Kulhan, cellist of the Panocha Quartet, from manuscripts found in the University of Prague Library.