Australian Haydn Ensemble: Divine Bohemians

Composers hailing from the now proud Czech Republic were surprisingly numerous in the 18th century and, while not household names today, had a significant impact on some who are.

These Bohemians were not wistful romantics lingering in garrets. No, these guys skipped straight onto express carriages bound for Austria, Germany or Italy, and never looked back.

Paul Wranitzky made good as Vienna’s most respected conductor (he premiered Beethoven’s 1st Symphony).

Josef Mysliveček so out-Italianed the Italians that they dubbed him "il divino boemo". A friend and mentor to the young Mozart, their relationship touchingly survived his fall from grace.

This concert samples their prolific output including a tender Mysliveček larghetto, and a superb late quartet by Wranitzky - rounded out with Haydn's Op. 77 No.1, proof that the old master never lost his touch, and Beethoven’s elegant 18 No. 3, written for the music super fan Prince Lobkowitz.

Czech this one out.

PROGRAM
HAYDN String Quartet Op. 77 No. 1 in G major
MYSLIVEČEK String Quartet Op. 3 No. 6 Larghetto
WRANITZKY String Quartet Op. 49 in D minor
BEETHOVEN String Quartet Op. 18 No. 3 in D major