The four composers on this recording are related in a number of different fashions: they traveled frequently and far and wide, from court to court, performing, composing and thus also exchanging ideas with one another. They were renowned and celebrated throughout Europe during their lifetimes, even more so than Mozart or Beethoven. Haydn and Mozart highly estimated Vanhal’s symphonic works, and they regularly played string quartets with him and Dittersdorf (Mozart played viola in these quartets). Mozart traveled frequently to the court in Mannheim, where Stamitz’s father led the illustrious orchestra.

And Hummel lived with Mozart for two years as one of his students, and his compositions show Mozart’s clear influence. These sonatas for viola and piano are pleasing for their elegance, simplicity and charm; they are compositions which deserve to be rediscovered and regularly performed once again. Anna Barbara Duetschler, viola, and Ursula Duetschler, fortepiano, offer a strong performance in their first recording as a duo.