Search - Wenzel Pichl, Kevin Mallon, Toronto Chamber Orchestra :: Pichl: Symphonies

Pleasant Music from Pichl

Ross Kennett | Narooma, NSW Australia | 06/23/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wendel Pichl was a Czech composer who was highly regarded in his time, but until recent times was forgotten. He worked in Vienna, where these symphonies were written in the late 1760s, and in Italy.

Here we have four of seven "muse" symphanies, if, like me, you know nothing about the seven muses, don't worry, it will have no effect on your opinion of the music.

They are stylish, delightful, intelligent and polished works, the faster movements are brisk, tuneful and happy, and the slower lyrical and charming.

As always, Mallon and his Toronto colleagues play them with enthusiasm, precision and style, and the sound is clear and crisp

As a review should be mostly about the quality of the performance, and I can't fault it, I must give it five stars, but with a rider; if, like me your shelves are loaded with 18th century symphonies from early Haydn through CPE Bach, J Stamitz, Benda, Cannabich, Beck, JC Bach, Vanhal, Mozart to late Haydn you might well decide that enough's enough.

"