Vanhal: Symphonies Vol 1

Reviews:
"This is labeled Volume I, so we may expect a complete series. Naxos seems to be on the way to recording almost every composer's complete works. Best of all, Naxos is using Paul Bryan's cataloging of them to enable us to differentiate one from another in the same key. In fact, Mr. Bryan wrote the highly informative notes. Uwe Grodd and his Hungarian players are alert and polished. They are easily as good as the best of the other discs, and the recording is outstanding as well."
- American Record Guide (Carl Bauman), Jan- Feb 2000

"And now, at budget price, the German conductor Uwe Grodd, in a disc appetizingly styled Symphonies Vol. 1, presents, four more, in lusty readings that set the music fizzing on its way; ... The notes with this Naxos disc are by Vañhal expert Paul Bryan himself, whose association with this recording guarantees its scholarly reliability-though scholarly calm is the last mood evoked by Vañhal's good-natured brightness. Congratulations to Naxos, by the way, for being the first to remember the hacek of the 'n' of Vañhal's name. All three discs are safe recommendations."
- Fanfare (Martin Anderson), Jan- Feb 2000

"The classical symphony is so dominated by the twin figures of Haydn & Mozart that it is all too easy to overlook the considerable contributions which were made by many lesser figures. The Naxos label is doing a great service by bringing to light many of these works in its '18th Century Symphony' series. It now launches a survey of the symphonies of the Bohemian composer Johann Baptist Vanhal with four highly spirited, engaging pieces dating from 1760-1780 that are the equal of Haydn's contemporary efforts. These are witty, original pieces and it's easy to see why Imperial Vienna took them immediately to its heart. Uwe Grodd and the very fine Hungarian players of the Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia make a strong case for them."
- The Independent, September 1999

"Even among the many new discs of forgotten music by Mozart's contemporaries this Naxos issue stands out. Born in Bohemia in 1739 of peasant stock, Johann Baptist Vanhal was one of the most successful composers in Vienna, producing over 1,300 compositions in many genres. These four compact symphonies, representing different periods of his career, are all colourful and inventive, often bringing surprises that defy the conventions of the time. The Sinfonia's lively performances under Uwe Grodd make one look forward to further issues of Vanhal's music."
- Edward Greenfield, The Guardian 8th October 1999