Sinfonia Bb

Dittersdorf (1739-1799) was one of the most prolific and versatile of Haydn’s and Mozart’s Viennese contemporaries. He wrote fluently and attractively in all genres and his symphonies, of which there are over a hundred, reveal a wealth of novel solutions to the problems of form and a subversive wit that bears comparison only with Haydn’s. Although his programmatic symphonies are rightly lauded for their great originality, Dittersdorf’s more orthodox works are also remarkable for their exuberant musical invention and impressive command of the orchestra. Composed not later than 1766 (on the basis of an entry in the Sigmaringen Catalogue) Grave Bb5 shares many common stylistic traits with the composer’s other symphonies of the time: it is elegantly composed, lively and attractive.