This disc of five symphonies by François-Joseph Gossec (1734-1829) is part of Chandos’ Contemporaries of Mozart series. As he was born two years after Haydn and died two years before Schubert, he was also a contemporary of Beethoven as well as many other composers of the Classical and early Romantic periods. Like Haydn, Gossec lead a successful career in music that included composing, performing, teaching and various directorship positions throughout France. (Yes kids, you can make money in music, no matter what your parents say!) As would be expected, Gossec was highly prolific, producing no fewer than thirty works for the stage, a large body of choral and chamber music, and over fifty symphonies.
The symphonies on the present disc were composed between 1761 and 1776 and are varied in style. The disc begins with the Symphony in F, Op.12, No.6, which is Haydnesque in its multiplicity of themes, rhythmic experimentation, and orchestration (particularly the use of horns). The E flat symphony Op. 5 No. 2 has an unusually fast Romanza that moves like a march, and a finale with a tricky main theme that sounds syncopated, but isn’t. A second Symphony in E flat, Opus 5 No.12, begins with a very long introduction (two minutes out of five) leading to a lively presto. A finale in the popular “hunting” style (6/8) ends the work. The “Pastorella” symphony, Op.5 No.3 sports a flowing Adagio and graceful Minuet, while the symphony ends with a spirited tarantella that features some lovely flute writing. The opening of the Symphony in D, B86 is striking in its similarity to Mozart’s Haffner Symphony, and its brief, vibrant finale makes a satisfying conclusion to the disc.
Matthias Bamert’s stylish conducting makes these “unknown” works sound familiar, and the London Mozart Players are clearly enjoying themselves. Chandos’s sound has the perfect balance of clarity and reverberation to capture the ambiance of these lively performances. Recommended.
