Hoffmeister: Double Bass Quartets Nos. 2-4

The novelty of Franz Anton Hoffmeister�s double bass quartets lies in his substitution of that husky-voiced instrument for the first violin in a regular string quartet line-up. Seldom heard in such a prominent position the double bass reveals itself as a good humoured and surprisingly expressive vehicle for Hoffmeister�s amiably melodic writing. It also gives an especially haunting melancholic quality to Schubert�s much-loved Arpeggione Sonata, not merely in the beautiful Adagio but also in the more agile outer movements.

"Franz Anton Hoffmeister (1754-1812) was a quite prolific classical composer whose music has only been intermittently recorded so far. It isn�t particularly serious in mood, but it is well worth exploring. Duka is a remarkable player with a lightness of touch that must have seemed even more remarkable in 1980 when these pieces were recorded.

�I would recommend this disc for the Hoffmeister alone." --American Record Guide, July 2011

Hoffmeister: Flute Concertos, Volume 2

�anyone who listens to Mozart or Haydn primarily for elegant melodies and rhythmic certainties will find Hoffmeister tasty. Others may find him at times a little too sweet...Gold-fluted Bruno Meier has no real difficulties to face in the scores, whether technical or expressive, whilst the dependable if not exactly characterful Prague Chamber Orchestra provide dabs of background colour.� --MusicWeb International, 30th October 2013

Franz Anton Hoffmeister was a formative figure in the musical life of his time and highly regarded as a publisher of famous contemporaries such as Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. The variety and appeal of his own works also made him a popular and renowned composer. As with volume 1 of this series (8572738), flautist Bruno Meier has created new editions of these previously unknown works. With elegant and catchy themes, substantial proportions, intriguing major/minor contrasts of key and virtuoso solo writing, Hoffmeister satisfied the tastes of his time finding a perfect balance between grace and artistry.

Hoffmeister: Flute Concertos Nos. 21 and 24

"�fans of the flute and the Classical orchestra will pass many an uplifting, mellifluent hour, especially in the good company of Swiss flautist Bruno Meier and the dependable Prague Chamber Orchestra�Meier�s gold flute has an appropriately luxurious tone�he flutters and cruises gracefully along like a sunlit fritillary on a summer breeze. The PCO have appeared several times before on Naxos�so they are au fait with the intermediate demands of this kind of music. Sound quality is pretty good." --MusicWeb International, July 2013

As prolific a composer as Haydn, Franz Anton Hoffmeister was a formative figure in his day, also acting as a significant music publisher for Mozart and Beethoven. Meeting the tastes of the time with a perfect blend of grace and artistry, both of these flute concertos are filled with radiant elegance and catchy melodies, allied to symphonic dimensions and passages of remarkable virtuosity for the soloist.