Mozart / Oslo Kammerakademi / Hadland - For Piano & Winds [CD]

Unfortunately, there is no real Norwegian language equivalent to the expression "unsung hero," but one can immediately place Franz Danzi in that category. His upbringing in Mannheim in the 1770s and 80s provided him with the perfect backdrop to experience the most important musical currents of the time, where people puttered around with such things as synchronized bowings and soloistic wind parts in the orchestra - elements commonplace to us today, but considered quite groundbreaking then. The young Danzi also met Mozart, who showed a great interest in the pioneering work in Mannheim, and Danzi expressed boundless admiration for the old master throughout his entire life. Danzi's big dream was to further develop the German Singspiel genre, where Mozart, with the operas The Abduction from the Seraglio and The Magic Flute, had laid a golden foundation. Danzi's wife, Margarethe Marchand, was an outstanding soprano and an enthusiastic promoter of her husband's works, but when she died at the young age of 32, Danzi seemed to lose interest in the genre. However, he was an avid supporter and inspiration to his younger colleague, Carl Maria von Weber. Weber's Singspiel Der Freischutz (The Marksman) took the genre to new heights, with the manifestation of nature as a singing creature. For this we must thank Danzi! This release features works by Danzi, as well as Mozart and Beethoven, beautifully performed by Christian Ihle Hadland and the Oslo Kammerakademi.