Friedrich Witt: Symphonies 1-3 Kölner Akademie & Michael Alexander Willens

• Friedrich Witt (1770 - 1836): Symphony No. 1 in B flat major:
• 1 Witt: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major: Adagio – Allegro vivace 09:10
• 2 Witt: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major: Adagio 04:46
• 3 Witt: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major: Menuetto 03:45
• 4 Witt: Symphony No. 1 in B flat major: Finale. Allegro vivace 07:15
• Symphony No. 2 in D major:
• 5 Witt: Symphony No. 2 in D major: Grave – Allegro non tanto 08:28
• 6 Witt: Symphony No. 2 in D major: Adagio 05:20
• 7 Witt: Symphony No. 2 in D major: Menuetto 03:34
• 8 Witt: Symphony No. 2 in D major: Finale. Allegro non tanto 05:21
• Symphony No. 3 in F major:
• 9 Witt: Symphony No. 3 in F major: Adagio – Allegro assai 10:07
• 10 Witt: Symphony No. 3 in F major: Andante 04:34
• 11 Witt: Symphony No. 3 in F major: Menuetto 03:55
• 12 Witt: Symphony No. 3 in F major: Finale 06:55
• Total Runtime 01:13:10

Info zu Friedrich Witt: Symphonies 1-3

Seine posthume Bekanntheit verdankte der Protagonist dieser Produktion einem Irrtum: Die »Jenaer Symphonie«, die man 1909 in der Universitätsbibliothek der Stadt entdeckte, wurde als ein vermeintliches Frühwerk Beethovens gründlich studiert, diskutiert und sogar eingespielt. Seit 1968 weiß man allerdings, dass es sich bei der Komposition mitnichten um die »Nullte« des Titanen, sondern um die 14te von insgesamt 23 Symphonien handelt, die Friedrich Witt aus dem baden-württembergischen Niederstetten geschrieben und zu erheblichen Teilen auch publiziert hat. Ganze fünf Wochen älter als sein Bonner Kollege, den er um neun Jahre überlebte, war er seit 1802 Hofkapellmeister zu Würzburg, wo sein symphonisches Schaffen einen staunenswerten Aufschwung nahm und offenbar neu sortiert wurde: Die drei hier eingespielten Symphonien Nr. 1 bis 3 sind einige Jahre jünger als ihre vielgelobte Schwester, deren verheißungsvolle Qualität sie indes konsequent fortsetzen.

Die Kölner Akademie
Michael Alexander Willens, Dirigent

Michael Alexander Willens
music director of Die Kölner Akademie, studied conducting with John Nelson at the Juilliard School in New York, where he received B.M. and M.M. degrees. He has also studied with Leonard Bernstein at Tanglewood, as well as choral conducting with Paul Vorwerk. Willens’ broad experience has given him an unusual depth of background and familiarity with performance practice styles ranging from baroque, classical and romantic through to contemporary as well as jazz and pop music.

Mr. Willens has conducted concerts at major concert halls and festivals in Europe, South America, Asia, Iceland, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Israel and the United States, receiving the highest critical praise:

“The success of the whole owed in large measure to the uncommonly precise, yet never affected gestures of Michael Alexander Willens”.

In addition to the standard repertoire, Michael Alexander Willens is dedicated to performing works by lesser-known contemporary American composers and has conducted several world premières, many of which have been broadcast live or filmed for television. He is also keenly interested in re-discovering music from the past and has released over 40 CDs featuring this repertoire. Several of these recordings have been nominated and received awards. They have all received outstanding international reviews, : “Willens achieves an impeccably stylish and enjoyable performance.” (Gramophone ) ,,…conductor Michael Alexander Willens exploits every bar of the score to fullest expressive effect. (Fanfare)

He has guest conducted orchestras in Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Brazil and Israel in addition to his commitment to Die Kölner Akademie.

The Kölner Akademie
takes you on a journey through classical music: expressive, virtuosic, and exact in every detail. From the baroque to the present, the broad repertoire of this unique ensemble, under the artistic direction of its internationally renowned conductor Michael Alexander Willens, has been awarded numerous prizes.

Known and lesser known composers are impressively represented by this period instrumental ensemble.Performances at international festivals, live television and radio broadcasts in connection with their highly acclaimed CD recordings have made the Kölner Akademie well-known far beyond their national borders.

Apart from works by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, the ensemble shows their broad musical scope in full detail, especially with their series of world premiere recordings by lesser known composers.

Booklet für Friedrich Witt: Symphonies 1-3