Paul Wranitzky began composing late in life compared to his friend Mozart, but quickly rose to become the most important symphonist in Vienna by the end of the 1790s. The dramatic Grande sinfonia caractéristique pour la paix avec la République françoise depicts the French Revolution and France’s subsequent war with Austria. Political complications saw its performance in Vienna forbidden by Imperial decree, but this did not end Wranitzky’s success at court: the exuberant Symphony in D major and the charming ‘Hunt Symphony’, both unpublished, come from the collection of the Emperor’s brother.

This series has been greeted by much critical acclaim. Volume 4 (8574290) was released in April 2022, and much admired in MusicWeb International: ‘Listening to this music leads one to hear some of the other recordings already released by Naxos; I look forward to future releases of this important composer’s music in coming years’.

Volume 3 (8574289) also generated applause from Fanfare: ‘They play with gusto if not much subtlety, which suits Wranitzky’s scores well. Naxos’s recorded sound is winningly bright and full’.

The Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra Pardubice is valued for its stylistic interpretations and the extraordinary quality of its orchestral sound, and it is rightly ranked amongst the world’s leading representatives of Czech musical culture. It often performs at the most prestigious festivals in the Czech Republic and venues throughout Europe such as the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, the Grosses Festspielhaus, Salzburg, the Herkulessaal and the Gasteig, Munich, the Musikverein, Vienna, the Brucknerhaus, Linz, and the Meistersingerhalle, Nuremberg among many others. Outside Europe the orchestra has performed in Japan and toured extensively around America.

Czech conductor Marek Štilec is known as an interpreter of Classical orchestral repertoire and is a specialist in Czech Romantic and contemporary music. He has collaborated with orchestras the world over, including the New World Symphony, Ulster Orchestra, London Classical Soloists, Orchestra of the Swan, Berlin Camerata, Kammerphilharmonie Graz and Sinfonietta Bratislava. A prolific recording artist, he has made over 30 albums for labels including Naxos, ArcoDiva, cpo and Supraphon. In the field of historically informed performance Štilec has collaborated with ensembles including Czech Ensemble Baroque and Ensemble 18+.