Josef Mysliveček, a Bohemian composer, was born an identical twin in Prague in 1737 and, despite becoming a master miller, pursued music.
Compositional Technique
Louis Spohr's Violin Concerto No. 8 radically departs from standard concerto format by casting the soloist in the role of a singer in a dramatic operatic scene.
Interpretation
For this recording, Elizabeth Wallfisch used a 1750 violin by Pietro Paolo de Vitor for the Mysliveček concerto and an Amati copy from 1990 for the other works.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mysliveček's Italianate style greatly influenced Mozart in his operas, symphonies, and violin concertos, and he wrote the earliest string quintets.
Composer Biography
Giovanni Battista Viotti, considered the founder of modern violin playing, had a varied career that included serving Marie-Antoinette and selling wine in London.
Composition History
Schubert's Rondo in A major, D438, for violin and four-part string orchestra, was composed in June 1816 but only published 81 years later.
Historical Context
The violin became a popular concerto instrument from the early 18th century, with Giuseppe Torelli writing the first in about 1698.
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