Muzio Clementi - Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2; Overture in D Major (Francesco La Vecchia)

Information

Composer: Muzio Clementi

• Overture in D Major
• Symphony No. 1 in C Major, WoO 32
• Symphony No. 2 in D Major, WoO 33

Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma

Francesco La Vecchia, conductor

Date: 2012

Label: Naxos

https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=8.573071

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Review

Although we tend to think of Muzio Clementi primarily as the composer of utilitarian exercises for the piano, this disc reminds us of his considerable gifts as a symphonist and the liner notes succinctly lay out the impressive details of his remarkable and influential career. His playing, conducting and teaching brought him into contact with leading composers of his generation and in 1813 he founded – together with Viotti – the Philharmonic Society of London. He was also active in music publishing and the manufacturing of pianos.

Written somewhere between 1805 and 1820 (the exact dates of composition are a matter of speculation), these orchestral pieces invite comparison to the masterpieces of the form by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven and the results are favourable. It’s clear that Clementi’s studies and travels – which took him from Rome to Paris, Vienna, Lyon and, eventually, London – equipped him with a formidable musical knowledge and technique. Thematic interest, clever orchestration and powerful drama make the case that these works should be more widely known.

This excellent recording will help in that regard. La Vecchia coaxes energetic and spirited performances from his orchestra, featuring particularly fine wind playing.     

-- Larry Beckwith, The Whole Note

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2013/Oct13/Clementi_sys_8573071.htm

https://www.allmusic.com/album/clementi-symphonies-nos-1-2-overture-in-d-major-mw0002462173

https://www.naxos.com/Review/Detail/?catalogueid=8.573071&languageid=EN

https://www.amazon.com/Clementi-Symphonies-Nos-Overture/dp/B00A8QBG72

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Muzio Clementi (23 January 1752 – 10 March 1832) was an Italian composer, virtuoso pianist, pedagogue, conductor, music publisher, editor, and piano manufacturer. Influenced by D. Scarlatti, J. Haydn and J.S. Bach, Clementi developed a fluent and technical legato style, which he passed on to a generation of pianists, including J. Field, Moscheles, Meyerbeer, Kalkbrenner, Hummel and Czerny. He was also a notable influence on Beethoven and Chopin. Clementi composed almost 110 piano sonatas, and was among the first to create keyboard works expressly for the capabilities of the piano.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muzio_Clementi

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Francesco La Vecchia (born September 10, 1954 in Rome) is an Italian classical conductor. La Vecchia's first instrument was the classical guitar. In 1972, he founded the Boccherini Quintet, and played hundreds of concerts with this ensemble in Europe, America and Asia. He began his career as conductor in 1982, and since then has conducted more than one hundred orchestras around the world. La Vecchia was named artistic and musical director of the Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma in 2002. Specializing in Italian music, he has made dozens of recordings, mostly for the Naxos label.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francesco_La_Vecchia

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