Jiránek: Concertos & Sinfonias. Music from Eighteenth-Century Prague

František Jiránek (1698-1778) - Sinfonia in D major, Bassoon Concertos in G minor and F major, Flute Concerto in G major, Violin Concerto in D minor, Sinfonia in F major

Sergio Azzolini - Baroque bassoon, Marina Katarzhnova - violin, Jana Semerádová - flauto traverso
Collegium Marianum, Artistic Director: Jana Semerádová
(period instruments)

Ever newer chapters from the history of the bountiful musical life of Baroque Prague are still being discovered today. Until recently, František Jiránek, a composer and violinist of the Prague-based Count Morzin's chapel, had only been known to a select few. Now, for the first time, all lovers of old music are afforded the opportunity to listen to an exquisite collection of his virtuoso concertos. At first hearing, we can recognise inspiration by Vivaldi (combined with distinct elements of Czech musicality) - after all, Jiránek was sent by his employer to study in Venice, where most likely Antonio Vivaldi himself, at the time Morzin's "maestro di musica in Italia", was his teacher. Later on, Jiránek worked in Dresden, where his further creation was gradually formed by the Galant style and the ascending Classicism. The world premiere of Jiránek's virtuoso concertos has been undertaken by superlative soloists headed by the "wizard" bassoonist Sergio Azzolini. With full engagement, together with Collegium Marianum under the flautist Jana Semerádová, they have breathed new life into Jiránek, which this rediscovered composer sorichly deserves.


Virtuoso concertos by Antonio Vivaldi's Czech pupil revived in the 21st century