This is a delightful collection of tunes, which you should go and buy; the music is both accomplished and easy to listen to, and it’s what you might imagine you could hear if you dropped into any Salzburg salon habituated by the happening people in Mozart’s era.
Johann Nepomuk Hummel (1778–1837) was an Austrian composer and virtuoso pianist whose music reflects the transition from the to the Romantic era.
He was a pupil of Mozart, Salieri and Haydn.
All you really need to know is that at the age of eight he was offered music lessons by Mozart, who was impressed with his ability. Mozart! Impressed!
Hummel was taught and housed by Mozart for two years free of charge and made his first concert appearance at the age of nine at one of Mozart’s concerts.
Hummel died famous but he and his music were quickly forgotten, according to Wikipedia.
I’ve been playing a new boxset of Beethoven piano sonatas, and this is easily as good, and shorter. It’s all very lively and hugely enjoyable. This is out on MDG.
JMC
