IDAGIO | Joseph & August Labitzky: Waltzes · Polkas

Featuring

Christian Simonis
Anna Reszniak
Makiko Odagiri
Nürnberger Symphoniker
Joseph Labitzky
August Labitzky

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Historical Context

Karlsbad, where Joseph Labitzky served as Kapellmeister of the spa orchestra for 33 years, was a premier European spa resort known for its healing springs since the 14th century.

Composer Biography

Joseph Labitzky, orphaned at 14, initially trained as a cloth cutter and received his master craftsman's diploma in 1824, the same year he completed his compositional studies.

Critical Reception

Joseph Labitzky's compositions were praised for their rich melodies and splendid instrumentation, with one critic noting his waltzes often had five or six 'flowers' (melodies) surrounded by an introduction and finale.

Performer Biography

August Labitzky, who led the Karlsbad Orchestra for 35 years, was a pioneering figure, performing Anton Bruckner's Third Symphony in Karlsbad in 1900, which was still a rare achievement at the time.

Notable Performances

The European premiere of Antonín Dvořák's Symphony No. 9, 'From the New World', was conducted by August Labitzky in Karlsbad in 1894, not in a major European capital.

Composer Biography

Joseph Labitzky, Joseph Lanner, and Johann Strauss the Father belonged to the same generation and independently developed their musical languages in the mid-1820s.

Composer Biography

Joseph Labitzky, a master of waltz and polka, was a conductor and orchestra manager who transformed the Karlsbad spa music into the Karlsbad Symphony Orchestra.