Today, it is difficult to imagine that the renown of the Czech composer Leopold Koželuh (1747-1818) in Vienna once equalled the fame Mozart enjoyed, that he was perceived as being on a par with Beethoven or Haydn.

An accomplished composer, sought-after piano virtuoso and teacher in the services of the highest aristocratic circles, including the imperial family, Koželuh ardently championed the at the time still young and modern fortepiano. This instrument plays a pivotal role in his compositions, which is also the case of the sonatas presented on this recording, with the flute and cello rather complementing, commenting on and accompanying the exposed piano part. These Koželuh pieces were published in Vienna, as well as in London, Paris, Berlin and other cultural centres.

Alongside the large number of sonatas with an “accompanying” violin, Koželuh’s oeuvre contains thirteen works in which he gave preference to the flute. The five most wonderful of these have been cherry-picked for this CD by three female virtuosos performing on period instruments. With their characteristic enthusiasm, they at least partially redeem our debt to the hitherto undeservedly marginalised Czech composer.

Recorded for the Czech Radio at the Martínek Studio, Prague, in March and May 2011.

World Première Recording on Period Instruments.