1743-1805
! If Haydn were to be regarded as the Beethoven of the 18th century, Boccherini would certainly be the Schubert.' (SEARLE) A deftly-worded compliment to Boccherini's lyrical talents, and yet his music always seems to be fighting a losing battle with the mature works of Haydn and Mozart and the early ones of Beethoven.
This week's programmes present a cross-section of Boccherini's instrumental music, much of it rarely heard and much that belies the usual Boccherini adjectives -'charming, elegant and polished ',
Symphony in B flat, Op 12 No 5 NEW PHILHARMONIA ORCHESTRA conducted by RAYMOND LEPPARD
String Trio in G major, Op 47 NO 2: MEMBERS OF THE CARMIRELLI QUARTET
String Quintet in E major, Op 11 No 5 (mono)
GÜNTER KEHR (violin)
WOLFGANG BARTELS (violin) ERICH SICHERMANN (viola) BERNARD BRAUNHOLZ (cello)
FRIEDRICH BERZBRUCH (cello) gramophone records