Trios A Cordes [CD de audio] Ensemble Cordia and Paul Wranitzky

Paul Wranitzky was born the same year as Mozart, 1756, and died a year before Haydn, 1809. As a leading figure in the musical life of Vienna, he knew both and was also present in Beethoven's career. Born in Moravia, Wranitzky's early education seemed to anticipate a career in the church, but his skills as a beginning violinist and composer gradually began to shift the focus of his life toward becoming an independent musician in Vienna. The three trios on this recording were composed in the second half of the 1780s and early 1790s, just as Wranitzky was beginning to establish himself as an important figure in the musical life of Vienna. His easy mastery of the medium in terms of a balanced and constantly varied sonority is evident in all three works. The sound is rich and all three musicians contribute to the dialogue, informally exchanging material as in the opening movements of Op.17 No.1 or taking it in turns as in the variations that open Op.3 No.1. Ensemble Cordia has specialized in stylized, historically informed performances of the music of this era, discovering much beautiful and forgotten music in the process. His previous album on Brilliant Classics was chamber music by Paul Wranitzky's brother, Anton, and achieved critical success.