Masters of Forgotten Sound: Mysliveček's Legacy Reexplored!

Masters of Forgotten Sound: Mysliveček's Legacy Reexplored!

A musical highlight will soon be offered in the Peace Church in Potsdam: the Violin Concerto in D major by Josef Mysliveček, an often forgotten composer of the late Baroque, is on the program. Mysliveček, who lived from 1737 to 1781 and worked mainly in Italy, became known as “Il Boemo”, which means “the Bohemian”. This reports Concerti.

Josef Mysliveček is a colorful figure in music history who is worth rediscovering. Born in Prague as the son of a wealthy mill owner, he initially began music as a hobby musician while training to be a miller. In 1763 he moved to Venice to give free rein to his artistic talents. Here he was able to establish himself in the Italian music scene with the help of his violin playing and his compositions. His first major opera, “Semiramide,” premiered in 1766 and opened the door to further success, including his work “Il Bellerofonte” in Naples, which became a hit. Loud Czechology But his life was also marked by tragedies, including the loss of his nose in an accident and health problems that were probably caused by syphilis.

The musical journey

The upcoming performance in Potsdam will be realized by the Dutch violinist Liza Ferschtman and the Potsdam Chamber Academy under the direction of Václav Luks. In addition to Mysliveček's Violin Concerto in D major, the seventh symphony by the Prague composer Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda and the F major overture by Jan Dismas Zelenka are also on the program. This diversity underlines the musical brilliance of the performance and the importance of these composers in music history.

Mysliveček was not only a gifted composer, but also a contemporary of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The two developed a close friendship that lasted for many years and was expressed in emotional correspondence. The two met for the first time in Bologna in 1770 and remained in contact until Mysliveček's death. Among Mozart, Mysliveček is seen as an influential figure in his own work, particularly in the areas of symphony and opera.

A forgotten master

Although he was greatly appreciated in his time and left behind numerous works, including around thirty musical theater pieces as well as masses and chamber music, Mysliveček's legacy is now largely forgotten. The English-language Wikipedia entry on him explains that his compositional creativity and the emotional intensity of his music, typical of Italian classical music, are often overlooked. He has only recently been able to regain his place in music history through the rediscovery of his works and through film projects such as the biography “Il Boemo,” which was most recently featured at the Academy Awards.

It's time to rediscover Josef Mysliveček and his impressive contributions to music - the upcoming concerts in Potsdam offer an excellent opportunity to do so. We look forward to an unforgettable evening with sounds from a true music master.