Leopold Koželuch: Piano Concerto No.5 in E flat major, Tomas Dratva (piano)

Leopold Koželuch - Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major (1785), (P IV:5), Tomas Dratva (piano), Slovak Sinfonietta Žilina, Oliver von Dohnanyi (conductor); cadenza is composed by Tomas Dratva 1.Allegro – 00:00 2.Andante con variazioni – 11:39 ----- 3.Rondeau. Poco Presto – 21:36 Leopold Koželuch, alternatively also Leopold Koželuh, (26 June 1747 – 7 May 1818), was a Czech composer and teacher of classical music. He was born in the town of Velvary, in Bohemia (present-day Czech Republic). He was an esteemed contemporary of Mozart, and in many circles considered the finer composer and an early champion of the fortepiano. “Vienna, 1785: Haydn and Mozart are at the height of their creativity, the young Beethoven will soon appear on the scene as well. Many other extraordinary musicians also contribute to shaping that unique epoch in music history we call the “Viennese Classic”. String quartets, symphonies, piano concertos and sonatas are composed in dizzying succession and at the highest level. The steadily growing audiences in a thriving city hold only the newest in esteem. This is the era in which Leopold Koželuch also lives and composes in Vienna. Born in Bohemia and educated in Prague, he moved to Vienna in 1778. In 1792, he became Mozart’s successor as chamber composer to the Emperor. He writes primarily for the “fortepiano”, otherwise known as the hammerklavier. His output: 23 piano concertos, 55 piano sonatas and 65 piano trios. The entire Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major retains a dignified, noble character corresponding to traditional notions concerning this key. In the first movement, the piano is primarily heard together with horns and oboes, anticipating the “Chasse” music of the Finale." (note by Tomas Dratva)