Hans Rott, a composer and contemporary of Gustav Mahler, was unknown to most people of his day, and familiar to many critics only by his name. Many people have expressed the opinion, perhaps justifiably, that only his tragic early death prevented him from both securing a place in the annals of music as Mahler’s equal and establishing a permanent position in the repertoire. A member of Bruckner’s circle within the music scene in Vienna, Rott developed a strong antipathy towards Johannes Brahms. When you hear his works, it’s difficult to appreciate that they probably remained entirely unperformed outside the confines of conservatory life. With these recordings of his orchestral works (some of them reconstructed), Capriccio has sought to fill that gap and preserve his fascinating legacy for posterity.

‘It simply cannot be gauged what music has lost with him.’ – Gustav Mahler