Duality / Zimmermann, Vaňhal - Bassoon Concertos

Anton Zimmermann (1741–1781) – Bassoon Concerto in F major*, Concerto for Two Bassoons and Orchestra in F major*. Jan Křtitel Vaňhal (1739–1813) – Bassoon Concerto in C major

Ondřej Šindelář, Sergio Azzolini classical bassoon, Risonanza Praga

The bassoon as a solo instrument does not appear all that often in the concerto literature, but a concerto for two bassoons is truly rare, being something that could arise only in the environment of an ensemble that possessed two soloists on that instrument. One such double concerto has been played for many years under the name of the important Czech composer Jan Křtitel Vaňhal. But what if it had really been composed by someone else? The question has been raised by Ondřej Šindelář, a player of the classical bassoon, who has found the same concerto bearing the name of Anton Zimmermann in one of Prague’s archives. The two works differ from each other only in the slow movement. Theft? Plagiarism? A copyist’s error? Collegial assistance? We are left with the unsolved mysteries of authorship and of whether the two masters may have met. Vaňhal’s travels took him from Hradec Králové to Vienna, Italy, Hungary, and Croatia. Having established himself professionally in Hradec Králové, Zimmermann went on to a successful career in Preßburg (Bratislava) in the service of Archbishop Józef Batthyány. What is important, however, is that Ondřej Šindelář has now joined his former teacher, the bassoon wizard Sergio Azzolini, to record Zimmermann’s version of the double concerto in its world premiere, supplemented by a solo concerto by Zimmermann (another premiere) and one of Vaňhal’s three preserved concertos. Noteworthy music that is previously undiscovered in the hands of wonderful soloists and orchestra—that’s a real musical feast.

Two composers. Two bassoonists. Two premieres. One big musical feast.