Thuringian Philharmonic celebrates Vaňhal: sonorous journey through time into the 18th century!

Thuringian Philharmonic celebrates Vaňhal: sonorous journey through time into the 18th century!

The musical landscape of Germany is currently being enriched by a special event: The baroque orchestra of the Thuringia Philharmonic Gotha-Eisenach brings works by the Czech composer with the support of the double bass virtuoso Roman Patkoló href = "https://www.concerti.de/vermischtes/barockorchester-thueringer-philharmonie-spielt-vanhal-dittersdorf-haydn/"> Jan Křtitel Vaňhal as well as pieces of Dittersdorf and Haydn. Vaňhal, also known as Johann Baptist, is an early classic of the 18th century, whose works for the double bass characterize him. He is considered one of the greatest double bass composers of his time and has written a legendary solo concert for this instrument.

Did you know that Vaňhal was one of the greatest known talents of his time? Despite its impressive record of over 700 compositions, many of which have been lost, his work remains under the radar in public. His fate is not unique, because, for example, his contemporaries, such as Mozart and Haydn, had to set the early course to stay in the history books. Radio Praha describes that his music is very valued in the Czech Republic, but was less known outside of this framework.

The way to fame

Jan Křtitel Vaňhal was born in Nechanice in 1739 and already showed a remarkable musical talent as a child, which was recognized early by his teacher, a village school teacher and organist. At the age of 18 he was already the main organist in Opočno, which laid the foundation for his later career. In 1760 he won the Countess Coloredo's interest, who sent him to Vienna, where he studied at Carl Ditters from Dittersdorf and quickly gained awareness. An interesting anecdote: in Vienna he was connected to personalities such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Christoph Willibald Gluck and even played in the same string quartet as Mozart, which made it possible to exchange ideas and composition techniques.

his work is characterized by a variety of genres, from over 100 symphonies to almost 100 string quartets to two operas and hundreds of chamber music pieces. It is noteworthy that after a time of personal difficulties and mental illnesses, Vaňhal turned to church music and only later returned to other forms of music. According to reports, Vaňhal has experienced a phase of confusion in his recent years, which led to the fact that he destroyed many of his scores himself before he died in Vienna in 1813

a comeback for vanhal

Now, a few centuries later, a renaissance is likely to be a renaissance for his unique compositions. Through the performances with the Baroque orchestra of the Thuringia Philharmonie , Vaňhal’s music is made accessible to a wider audience. During the ARD music competition, in which various interpreters compete for the favor of the jury, Vaňhal's iconic double bass concert can also be heard. Such opportunities are crucial to celebrate the work of a known master.

his music is not only part of the Czech identity, but also gradually finds her way back to the stages and in the concert halls in Europe. Perhaps now the right time has come to deal with the sounds of Jan Křitel Vaňhal and to revive a piece of forgotten musical history.