Jirí Antonín Benda: Sinfonias Nos. 1-6

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Benda was another one of those terrific Czech classical composers who, by weight of sheer talent and numbers, dominated the European musical scene in the time of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Other famous names included Hummel, Vorisek, Reicha, Vanhal, Rosetti, Krommer, and Stamitz. All of them wrote lively orchestral music and had a special way with wind instruments. Benda belongs to the generation just before Haydn, and his little Sinfonias all belong to the Italian tradition--three short movements arranged in a fast-slow-fast pattern. They are charming, lively works between 8 and 11 minutes long, and they are admirably performed here. --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Allegro
Andante
Allegro Di Molto
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
Allegro
Andante Sempre Piano
Allegro
Allegro
Andante
Allegro
Allegro
Andante Molto
Tempo Di Minuetto
Allegro
Andante
Allegro

Amazon.com

Benda was another one of those terrific Czech classical composers who, by weight of sheer talent and numbers, dominated the European musical scene in the time of Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven. Other famous names included Hummel, Vorisek, Reicha, Vanhal, Rosetti, Krommer, and Stamitz. All of them wrote lively orchestral music and had a special way with wind instruments. Benda belongs to the generation just before Haydn, and his little Sinfonias all belong to the Italian tradition--three short movements arranged in a fast-slow-fast pattern. They are charming, lively works between 8 and 11 minutes long, and they are admirably performed here. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Lively Little Works of the Early Classical Period.......2003-07-30

I've praised Christian Benda's recording of C. P. E. Bach's Hamburg Symphonies elsewhere on the Amazon Web site, and the same virtues hold true for the conductor's performances of works by his forebear, Jiri Antonin Benda. The latter-day Benda is a specialist in this music and has a most responsive and sympathetic group of players at his disposal.

Benda's symphonies are compact works, in scope more like overtures than symphonies (and let's face it, the distinction was not that clearly made in the early Classical period). Listening to all six symphonies, you'll have a definite sense of déjà vu, but if you listen to a couple at a time, you'll be struck by the spontaneity and enthusiasm of these little pieces and enjoy the special coloration that Benda's writing for the horns gives them. So that's the way I suggest listening to this enjoyable music. But by all means, give Benda a listen!

Pre-classic Delights.......2000-01-24

Benda's readings of his ancestor's Sinfonias is throughout charming, sprightly and lively. The Prague CO is true to the Czech string and wind playing tradition, delivering spirited readings under Benda's direction. Of particular notice are the extremely difficult horn parts in a few of the sinfonias, which - although hard pressed - the horn players of the Prague CO deliver quite well. These Sinfonias do not compare with the "masterpieces" of the era, like the symphonies of C.P.E bach and J.C. Bach. But if you know and have enjoyed Zinman's and Leppard's readings of J.C. Bach's complete symphonies on the Phillips label, you will find these symphonies and this particular rendering thoroughly enjoyable listening. The quality of the recording is good, with the right amount of ambience and resonance. If anything, the strings can tend to dominate a bit here and there, but this is not a serious defect.

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