Birth of the Symphony

On its first label-owned CD, the renowned orchestra “Academy of Ancient Music” explores the origins and development of the symphony in the 18th century, which had far-reaching consequences for all of Europe. Beginning with Handel’s wonderful symphony to “Saul” and concluding with Haydn’s mature symphony “La passione”, the recording contains brilliant works by composers of the Mannheim School such as Franz Xaver Richter and Johann Wenzel Anton Stamitz. “Haydn’s “La passione” is played both freshly and expressively … but the great discovery is Mozart’s First Symphony, which he wrote at the age of eight in 1764 in Chelsea – a composition that already hints at the inventiveness and buoyancy as well as the complexity of structure of the works yet to come. (The Sunday Times)