Johann Stamitz And Sons

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

2010

Bohemian Emergent

20100208

The various members of the Stamitz family are not exactly household names today. But during the eighteenth century, Stamitz was one of the most famous and celebrated names in music, with a dynasty of composers working all over Europe.

This week, Donald Macleod tells the rags-to-riches-and-back-to-rags-again tale of the most successful Stamitz - Johann - and his two sons, Carl and Anton. It's a story which begins with fame and fortune. Johann quickly achieved a reputation across Europe and was snapped up by the Mannheim Court, which was home to the best orchestra in Europe at the time, the envy of the world. According to Dr Charles Burney, '.. there are more solo players and good composers in this, than perhaps in any other orchestra in Europe; it is an army of generals, equally fit to plan a battle as to fight it.' Together, 'this extraordinary band' and their director set about revolutionizing the sound of the orchestra and its repertoire.

As the series unfolds, the glittering success of Johann ends in a tragically early death, and we meet his two sons, Carl and Anton, neither of whom could match their father's achievements. Anton must have thought he had it made when he got a job with the King's Music at the French court. The timing was unfortunate though - this was the 1780s and working for the French king was about to become rather less prestigious than it had been for the previous several centuries. Anton managed to escape the Revolution intact, but the lives of both brothers ended unhappily, childless, alone, in poverty - a sad end to a fascinating journey through one family's rise and fall, against the backdrop of glorious eighteenth century music.

1: Bohemian Emergent. In the first episode, Donald traces the early career of the most successful of the Stamitzes - Johann - who single-handedly revolutionized the sound of the orchestra in the eighteenth century, thanks to his work at the Mannheim Court.

Johann Stamitz

Symphony in G major (1st movement)

Concerto Köln

TELDEC 3984-28366-2 T11

Litaniae Lauretanae

Alsfelder Vokalensemble, Barockorchester Bremen, Wolfgang Helbich (conductor)

CPO 999 471-2 T17-24

Viola Concerto in G

Jan Peruska (viola), Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor)

PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T4-6

Symphony in A major A3

New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong (conductor)

NAXOS 8.553194 T12-14.

Donald Macleod explores the early career of Johann Stamitz.

2010

Symphonist Triumphant

20100209

2. Symphonist Triumphant. Donald Macleod continues the story of the most successful of the Stamitzes. The builders were still at work on the Electoral Palace in Mannheim when the new director of music, Johann Stamitz, arrived in 1741. The building was on a huge scale, with entertainment to match, and it was here that Stamitz teamed up with the best orchestra in the world at the time. Together, they revolutionized orchestral sound and repertoire.

Symphony in G major

Concerto K怀ln

TELDEC 3984-28366-2 T11-15.

Donald Macleod on Johann Stamitz's work at the Electoral Palace in Mannheim.

2010

20100210

It's only the middle of the week, and already, Donald Macleod is imparting the news of a composer's tragic early death. Johann Stamitz was 39 when he died - a fact which is usually reserved for Friday's programme. In this case, the story will continue with the mixed fortunes of Stamitz's sons, Carl and Anton. Today, Johann's last works, including a rare chance to hear his Missa Solemnis in full.

Orchestral Trio in C minor (last movement, Prestissimo)

New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong (conductor)

NAXOS 8.553213 T16

Clarinet Concerto in B flat

Sabine Meyer (clarinet)

Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Iona Brown (director)

EMI 0777 7 54842 2 9 T7-9

Monika Frimmer (soprano), Sylvia Schulter (alto), Harry van Berne (tenor), Tom Sol (bass)

Alsfelder Vokalensemble, Barockorchester Bremen, Wolfgang Helbich (conductor)

CPO 999 471-2 T1-15.

Donald Macleod describes the death of Johann Stamitz, and the mixed fortunes of his sons.

2010

20100211

When their father, the hugely famous Johann Stamitz, died at the age of 39, Carl and Anton were only eleven and six. Johann's colleagues immediately stepped in to support his family and ensured that the boys received a properly musical education. They set out on their careers as violinists, but would they be able to emulate their father's fame and fortune?

Carl Stamitz

Duo for violin and viola in A major

Vilmos Szabadi (violin), Peter Barsony (viola)

HUNGARATON HCD 32453 T4-6

Symphony in G major, op.13/16 no.4

London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert (conductor)

CHANDOS CHAN 9358 T7-9

Anton Stamitz

Viola Concerto in B flat major (1st movement)

Jan Peruska (viola)

Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor)

PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T7

Trio in G major

Wilbert Hazelzet (flute), Marion Moonen (flute)

Bernadette Verhagen (viola), Barbara Kernig (cello)

BERLIN 0017982BC T1-3.

Donald Macleod compares the success of Carl and Anton Stamitz to that of their father.

2010

05 LAST

20100212

For one reason or another, Johann Stamitz's two sons never really achieved their father's fame or fortune. Anton must have thought he'd got it made when he started work as a member of the King's Music at the French Court. Bad timing though. This was the 1780s, and royal patronage was about to become a whole lot less desirable than it had been for several centuries. Anton survived the Revolution, but as Donald Macleod discovers, both of the Stamitz sons died in terrible circumstances - the end of a rags-to-riches-and-rags-again story of one eighteenth century family.

Carl Stamitz

Viola Concerto in D major (1st movement)

Jan Peruska (viola)

Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor)

PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T1

Symphony in C op.13/16 no.5

London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert (conductor)

CHANDOS CHAN 9358 T4-6

Anton Stamitz

Sinfonia Concertante for two flutes and orchestra in G major

Jiri Valek (flute), Radomir Pivoda (flute)

Prague Chamber Orchestra, Frantisek Vajnar (conductor)

SUPRAPHON SU 3948-2 T7-9

Viola Concerto in B flat major (2nd movement)

PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T8.

Donald Macleod describes the unfortunate end of Johann Stamitz's sons, Carl and Anton.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
2010	01	Bohemian Emergent	20100208	The various members of the Stamitz family are not exactly household names today. But during the eighteenth century, Stamitz was one of the most famous and celebrated names in music, with a dynasty of composers working all over Europe. This week, Donald Macleod tells the rags-to-riches-and-back-to-rags-again tale of the most successful Stamitz - Johann - and his two sons, Carl and Anton. It's a story which begins with fame and fortune. Johann quickly achieved a reputation across Europe and was snapped up by the Mannheim Court, which was home to the best orchestra in Europe at the time, the envy of the world. According to Dr Charles Burney, '.. there are more solo players and good composers in this, than perhaps in any other orchestra in Europe; it is an army of generals, equally fit to plan a battle as to fight it.' Together, 'this extraordinary band' and their director set about revolutionizing the sound of the orchestra and its repertoire. As the series unfolds, the glittering success of Johann ends in a tragically early death, and we meet his two sons, Carl and Anton, neither of whom could match their father's achievements. Anton must have thought he had it made when he got a job with the King's Music at the French court. The timing was unfortunate though - this was the 1780s and working for the French king was about to become rather less prestigious than it had been for the previous several centuries. Anton managed to escape the Revolution intact, but the lives of both brothers ended unhappily, childless, alone, in poverty - a sad end to a fascinating journey through one family's rise and fall, against the backdrop of glorious eighteenth century music. 1: Bohemian Emergent. In the first episode, Donald traces the early career of the most successful of the Stamitzes - Johann - who single-handedly revolutionized the sound of the orchestra in the eighteenth century, thanks to his work at the Mannheim Court. Johann Stamitz Symphony in G major (1st movement) Concerto Köln TELDEC 3984-28366-2 T11 Litaniae Lauretanae Alsfelder Vokalensemble, Barockorchester Bremen, Wolfgang Helbich (conductor) CPO 999 471-2 T17-24 Viola Concerto in G Jan Peruska (viola), Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor) PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T4-6 Symphony in A major A3 New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong (conductor) NAXOS 8.553194 T12-14. Donald Macleod explores the early career of Johann Stamitz.
2010	02	Symphonist Triumphant	20100209	2. Symphonist Triumphant. Donald Macleod continues the story of the most successful of the Stamitzes. The builders were still at work on the Electoral Palace in Mannheim when the new director of music, Johann Stamitz, arrived in 1741. The building was on a huge scale, with entertainment to match, and it was here that Stamitz teamed up with the best orchestra in the world at the time. Together, they revolutionized orchestral sound and repertoire. Symphony in G major Concerto K怀ln TELDEC 3984-28366-2 T11-15. Donald Macleod on Johann Stamitz's work at the Electoral Palace in Mannheim.
2010	03		20100210	It's only the middle of the week, and already, Donald Macleod is imparting the news of a composer's tragic early death. Johann Stamitz was 39 when he died - a fact which is usually reserved for Friday's programme. In this case, the story will continue with the mixed fortunes of Stamitz's sons, Carl and Anton. Today, Johann's last works, including a rare chance to hear his Missa Solemnis in full. Orchestral Trio in C minor (last movement, Prestissimo) New Zealand Chamber Orchestra, Donald Armstrong (conductor) NAXOS 8.553213 T16 Clarinet Concerto in B flat Sabine Meyer (clarinet) Academy of St Martin in the Fields, Iona Brown (director) EMI 0777 7 54842 2 9 T7-9 Monika Frimmer (soprano), Sylvia Schulter (alto), Harry van Berne (tenor), Tom Sol (bass) Alsfelder Vokalensemble, Barockorchester Bremen, Wolfgang Helbich (conductor) CPO 999 471-2 T1-15. Donald Macleod describes the death of Johann Stamitz, and the mixed fortunes of his sons.
2010	04		20100211	When their father, the hugely famous Johann Stamitz, died at the age of 39, Carl and Anton were only eleven and six. Johann's colleagues immediately stepped in to support his family and ensured that the boys received a properly musical education. They set out on their careers as violinists, but would they be able to emulate their father's fame and fortune? Carl Stamitz Duo for violin and viola in A major Vilmos Szabadi (violin), Peter Barsony (viola) HUNGARATON HCD 32453 T4-6 Symphony in G major, op.13/16 no.4 London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert (conductor) CHANDOS CHAN 9358 T7-9 Anton Stamitz Viola Concerto in B flat major (1st movement) Jan Peruska (viola) Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor) PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T7 Trio in G major Wilbert Hazelzet (flute), Marion Moonen (flute) Bernadette Verhagen (viola), Barbara Kernig (cello) BERLIN 0017982BC T1-3. Donald Macleod compares the success of Carl and Anton Stamitz to that of their father.
2010	05 LAST		20100212	For one reason or another, Johann Stamitz's two sons never really achieved their father's fame or fortune. Anton must have thought he'd got it made when he started work as a member of the King's Music at the French Court. Bad timing though. This was the 1780s, and royal patronage was about to become a whole lot less desirable than it had been for several centuries. Anton survived the Revolution, but as Donald Macleod discovers, both of the Stamitz sons died in terrible circumstances - the end of a rags-to-riches-and-rags-again story of one eighteenth century family. Carl Stamitz Viola Concerto in D major (1st movement) Jan Peruska (viola) Prague Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra, Jiri Belohlavek (conductor) PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T1 Symphony in C op.13/16 no.5 London Mozart Players, Matthias Bamert (conductor) CHANDOS CHAN 9358 T4-6 Anton Stamitz Sinfonia Concertante for two flutes and orchestra in G major Jiri Valek (flute), Radomir Pivoda (flute) Prague Chamber Orchestra, Frantisek Vajnar (conductor) SUPRAPHON SU 3948-2 T7-9 Viola Concerto in B flat major (2nd movement) PANTON 81 1422-2 131 T8. Donald Macleod describes the unfortunate end of Johann Stamitz's sons, Carl and Anton.