A journey to the lesser-known. Today with music by Antonin Reicha.
This is the second episode of An Early Evening Stroll, dedicated to the Bohemian composer Antonin Reicha. He was born in Prague in 1770, but would later take on the French nationality and call himself Anton Reicha. He died in 1836 in Paris.
His uncle taught him how to play the violin, transverse flute and piano. In 1790, he was hired as violinist of the Hofkapelle in Bonn. Among the violists was Ludwig van Beethoven. He also studied music theory and composition in Bonn. In 1801, he moved to Vienna, where he befriended Haydn and Beethoven. When Napoleon’s troops occupied Vienna’s gates, Reicha moved to Paris. That’s where he became a professor and later on the principal of the Conservatoire. Among his pupils were Franz Liszt, Charles Gounod, Hector Berlioz and César Franck.
Reicha is now best remembered for his works for winds, specifically his wind quintets. However, this hour you will also hear some other compositions.
Playlist
- Antonin Reicha: from 36 fugue for piano, Op. 36, no. 1 up to and incl. 3. Tiny Wirtz, piano
- Antonin Reicha: clarinet quintet in Bes, Op. 89. Peter Shmidl, clarinet; Panocha Quartet
- Antonin Reicha: wind quintet in D, Op. 91 no. 9. Reicha Quintet
