Kazunori Seo - Leopold Hofmann: Flute Concertos, Vol. 1 (2001) CD-Rip

The music director of St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, the city of his birth, Leopold Hofmann (1738-1793) was a prolific composer. The son of a highly educated civil servant and a student of Georg Wagensil, he wrote dozens of symphonies, much chamber music and about 60 concertos, including at least 13 for the flute.

Insistent repeated notes in the upper strings set the stage for the flute entrance in the opening `Allegro moderato' in the G Major concerto. Over a walking bass line, the glittering flute dances in and out of the accompanying strings, sometimes soaring above them, at others engaging in delicate interplay

A courtly `Adagio' follows, again with an extended intro by the violins before the solo wind instrument glides into the spotlight. Along with the pulsing lower strings, a discreet harpsichord provides a subtle grounding. Closing the concerto is a sprightly `Vivace', with Kazunori Seo flashing enough dazzling technique to navigate the difficult passage work with ease.

Mistakenly attributed to Haydn for over 200 years, the 1st concerto in D Major starts with a genial `Allegro moderato' and shows why. Using a full orchestral palette, including horns and woodwinds, Hofmann compliments the filigreed work in the flute with an array of harmonic coloration and rhythmic variety.

Accompanied by the strings alone, the gorgeous tone and elegant ornamentation of Seo are on full display in the idyllic `Adagio'. The full orchestra returns for 3rd movement, a bright 'Allegro molto, supporting the bravura flute with an airy texture and a direct clarity.

The A Major concerto begins with marching lower strings in the 1st movement `Allegro' with the solo wind instrument presenting a virtuosic series of cascading runs, while the sober `Adagio' that follows offers another showcase for the lovely shimmering tone of the flute. An engaging rhythmic interplay between the string orchestra and the restless wind instrument characterizes the concluding' Allegro assai.'

With the opening movement marked `Tempo giusto, the 2nd D Major concerto features an intricate exchange between the violins and the flute. After establishing a marching bass line, the lower strings fall totally silent for extended periods, allowing the piece to achieve a gleaming luster by focusing on the upper register. Gently swirling lower strings open the `Adagio' before giving way to an elusive flute and a protracted solo. Horns return for the final `Allegro molto, a jaunty conclusion to this recording.

Aside from brief dips into dotted cadences and an occasional triplet, these works display a rhythmic clarity and straightforward harmonics, depending upon relatively complex interaction between the solo wind instrument and the orchestral accompaniment, with the main emphasis upon the virtuosic exhibition of the flute. The recording by Naxos is fine, and the Nicolaus Esterhazy Sinfonia under the baton of Bela Drahos matches the direct lucidity of the writing.

If you've never heard the work of Leopold Hofmann, these 3 flute concertos from the middle of Viennese Classicism are an excellent place to begin.