Johann Joseph Rösler (1771-1812) PC2 in E flat & Symphony in C

Started by Alan Howe, Thursday 23 May 2019, 17:37

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Alan Howe

This is a very enterprising CD of works by a Bohemian composer clearly cut off in his prime:
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/klavierkonzert-sinfonie/hnum/9155933

PC2 in E flat dates from 1803: it's 31 minutes long, with a 16-minute first movement which sounds very like early Beethoven. Unfortunately the performance here is spoilt by the use of a tinkly-sounding fortepiano - a great shame. It has been published in a modern edition by Bärenreiter:
https://www.baerenreiter.com/en/shop/product/details/BA11550_90/
The publisher's website has these details:

Johann Joseph Rösler (1771–1812) was a composer, conductor and pianist who was active in Prague and Vienna. Later he was in the service of Prince Franz Joseph von Lobkowitz. His Piano Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major of 1803 is a fitting companion to the piano concertos of Beethoven; indeed, his first Piano Concerto in D major was mistakenly attributed to Beethoven until 1925.
Now Rösler's second Piano Concerto is appearing in print for the first time. This is due to editor Alena Hönigová discovering and identifying an autograph score which is the only preserved source in the Prague Conservatory archive. In this Urtext edition Hönigová takes into account the distinctive features of Rösler's handwriting and the division of parts in the score, as befits the performance practice of his day.


This would be perfect material for Hyperion's Classical Piano Concerto series. How about it, Mr Shelley?

At 26 minutes the Symphony in C (1805) is shorter than the PC(!), although it has rather advanced-sounding opening movement which, following its slow introduction, has clear echoes of the Eroica.

By the way, Johann Joseph Rösler is not to be confused with Franz Anton Rösler, more commonly known as Francesco Antonio Rosetti (c.1750–1792).