Kraus: Symphonies, Vol. 2

Featuring

Petter Sundkvist
Urban Svensson
Svenska Kammarorkestern
Joseph Martin Kraus

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Composer's Artistic Vision

Kraus's compositional style is characterized by the unexpected and the dramatic, featuring forward-looking stylistic devices that anticipate music of the next century.

Composition History

Although fourteen of Kraus's symphonies survive, this is believed to be only a fraction of his total output, with many works from different periods now lost.

Performer Biography

Petter Sundkvist, the conductor, is a highly sought-after figure in Swedish music, known for his extensive recordings of Swedish music for Naxos.

Composer Biography

Joseph Martin Kraus, the composer, studied law at university but was influenced by a literary circle to pursue a career in music.

Performer Biography

The Swedish Chamber Orchestra, the only full-time professional chamber orchestra in Scandinavia, was formed in 1995 by merging a string orchestra and a wind ensemble.

Composition History

Kraus's opera Azire was initially rejected by the Royal Academy of Music in Sweden, but a successful trial work, Proserpin, commissioned by King Gustavus III, led to his appointment as deputy Kapellmeister.

Composer Biography

Kraus embarked on a grand tour of Europe at King Gustavus III's expense to study musical and theatrical trends, meeting major figures like Gluck and Haydn.