Australian Haydn Ensemble: Divine Bohemians

ACO On The Pier - The Neilson

Sun 2 Aug, 4:00pm

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.

Franz Xaver Richter and Paul Wranitzky made good; the first as violinist/composer at the Mannheim court and the latter 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: a forward-looking Richter quartet from 1757, a tender Mysliveček larghetto, and a superb late quartet by Wranitzky - rounded out with Beethoven’s elegant 18 No. 3, written for the music super fan Prince Lobkowitz.

Czech this one out.