Symphonies by Franz Anton Hoffmeister

[Alan Howe]

The final two symphonies (in C and D) by Hoffmeister (1754-1812) on this new cpo CD...
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/franz-anton-hoffmeister-symphonien/hnum/7089660
...were written in the 1800s and therefore represent that interesting period when the late-classical idiom was increasingly subject to experimentation. Not that Hoffmeister was particularly original, but there is sufficient here - e.g. the occasional harmonic surprises commented on by his contemporaries - to interest the ear.
The performances under Howard Griffiths are superb. My goodness, he does this repertoire so well.

[Alan Howe]

MusicWeb has now caught up with this excellent release:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2015/Dec/Hoffmeister_sys_7778952.htm