Pavel Vranický (1756 - 1808)
String Quartets, op.23 / 4-6

F10078   [8595017407826]   released 4/1998

Pro Arte Antiqua Praga
Václav Návrat - violin (Franz Anton Wild, Brunn 1792)
Jan Šimon - viola (French anonymous, 2nd half 18th cent.)
Ivo Anýž - viola (German anonymous, Orfönburg 1808)
Petr Hejný - cello (Pellegrino Zanetto, Brescia 1581)

Paul Wranitzky (Pavel Vranický) was born in what was previously known as Neureisch in Moravia, for its time one of the major cultural centres in Europe. He studied the violin, viola, organ and piano with members of the Premonstratensian order. During the years 1770 - 1771 he continued his studies at the Jesuit school in Jihlava, subsequently leaving for Olomouc where he studied theology and also became an excellent violinist. He entered a seminary in Vienna when he was only twenty. Here he completed his studies and continued to develop his musical education under Joseph Martin Kraus, a kapellmeister at the court in Stockholm who was working in Vienna. Wranitzky cultivated his knowledge of musical composition and theory under Joseph Haydn, thus embarking on a career in music.
     Wranitzky was offered the post of musical director by Johann Nepomuk Esterházy of Galanta and around the year 1790 he became conductor of the Viennese theatre orchestras, in particular, the Burgtheater and the Karntnertortheater. He was a highly prolificcomposer during this time, producing operas, operettas and ballets.
     Wranitzky's first well-known work was the singspiel Oberon from 1789 which he performed during the ceremonial coronation of Leopold II in Frankfurt. Oberon was so successful that it became the inspiration for other composers since Wranitzky played an important role in the Viennese musical environment at that time.
     For this reason both Haydn and Beethoven chose Wranitzky to conduct their own works. Haydn gave him free rein to direct his oratorios and also requested that he conduct his Viennese performances. On the 2nd of April 1800 Beethoven entrusted him to conduct the premiere of his 1st Symphony. In 1803 Wranitzky was visited in Vienna by C. M. von Weber. Carl Czerny fondly described this meeting of the Wranitzky brothers with several other artists in Beethoven's house in his memoirs. Wranitzky wrote a symphony in 1792 to honour the coronation of Francis II. He also wrote smaller works as a personal gesture towards Maria Theresa, Francis's second wife.
     Wranitzky encountered certain difficulties at court with his celebratory symphony for peace with the French Republic. An imperial decree from 1797, however, banned the work since its title was deemed too provocative.
     Wranitzky maintained his leading position at the theatre until his death in 1808 at the age of 52 from typhus. His role as orchestral conductor was assumed by his brother Anton.
    Wranitzky's first known works date from the beginning of 1780; within only a short time he had gained recognition as a composer of symphonies and chamber music which were written chiefly during the period 1786 - 1805. His singspiels are important for thefurther development of the Viennese operetta whilst his non-stage works include masses and canons etc. He is best known, however, for his instrumental works; he wrote 51 symphonies, an even greater number of chamber works, for the most part quartets (he is generally thought to have written 70 of them, works which betray a clear influence of Josef Haydn), also trios and over 20 quintets. He also wrote concertos for violin, flute, 'cello, various divertimenti and dances.
     Wranitzky's music is opulent, full of ideas and invention showing clear traits of the composer's origins. It is this opulence which contributed to the versatility of the Classical era in Vienna.

Jan Šimon