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Emilie Mayer, Symphonie No.1 / Laurence Equilbey & Insula Orchestra:

https://youtu.be/vo6d28bpDB8?si=_3OIXV7SFlWuW2l5

Glad others are finding a greater appreciation of Ries' Symphonies, I was always impressed by Griffiths' performances. However, I am not so interested in the Tapiola perfomances that I have heard on Youtube. I would have preferred experimentation to be with more flexible tempos, greater use of vibrato, and slower Andantes and Larghettos.

I once had an interesting conversation with  David Lloyd-Jones by Email. Otherwise I wouldn't really know how conductors would respond to such an approach. I was certainly pleased with Howard Griffiths' response (we may be wandering off topic)

I recently had a brief conversation with Howard Griffiths on Facebook -

I said - I've just been listening to Cipriani Potter's C minor symphony & it reminds me of Ries' C minor symphony. They were both premiering in London at about the same time, is there possibly some influence passing between the two composers? Or is it just the lingua franca?

He said - That's a very interesting question. They certainly both lived in London at the same time for several years. As far as I can find out there does not seem to have been any great friendship between them. They were almost rivals in the London scene. Particularly as both were involved in the Royal Philharmonic Society. I think both were under the influence of Beethoven as many other composers of that time.

I replied - I'll have another listen and see if I can identify the passage that set me thinking.

& me again - The finales. Both have a lyric theme with prominent winds, and then a dramatic march like second theme. Potter prefaces his with fanfares. That's the similarity I noticed.

(PS I think the La Folia concertante is great fun)

Viotti Violin Concerto No 22 springs to mind. This was the first 'unsung' piece that alerted me to the fact that many of the best compositions by less well known composers are better than some of the compositions of the famous ones. Is it my favourite? That's impossible to answer, but for the purposes of this thread it will do well.

The pathos and drama of Viotti 22 are marvellous, way more interesting in my estimation than Mozart's oft played violin concertos. The Lola Bobesco recording is my favourite.

https://youtu.be/e9IZSTn2N3U?si=lpFrFEIseJsbOPb3

Unsung String Octets

I haven't heard the Gliere, but here's what I have heard. I am reluctant to include Spohr's Double Quartets on the list, but have I missed any others from the Romantic era?

Raff in C
Bruch in B flat
Bargiel in C minor
Gade in F
Svendsen in A
Enescu in C
Schuberth in E

I think the quite the opposite, that Ries' symphonies are more engaging than Krommer's, but then I never seem to agree with the consensus on this forum ( & this may be developing into a different thread than Ries' Violin Concerto)

Oh yes he hits the heights, especially in motivic and harmonic development. The A minor symphony, the C sharp minor Concerto, the C major String Quintet, and the F minor Quartet are good examples of his 'heights.' I suspect his virtues are more Classical than Romantic.

I am a Ries fan, but even I would rate the violin concerto 'engaging' rather than 'great.' The drama is of a domestic, Biedermeier, scale. But then, I don't always want to be moved to the core by great beauty or tragedy, sometimes I just want 'engaging.'  The opening theme of the finale may perhaps be too good, as it obliterates in my recollection of the piece all the other themes. It sounds like many of the other folk influenced themes Ries later used for finales.   

I think so, but I can't put my finger on why, better phrasing?

The Sinfonietta Riga, with Florian Donderer - Solo Violin & Conductor

https://youtu.be/sC-AlDExpp4?si=GP2-7yvS55EBWX3J

Bottesini wrote chamber music - quartets and quintets, that have been recorded. They continue in the manner of Boccherini and Paganini, that is an Italianate concern for melody over motivic development. I value him  as part of that Italian tradition of instrumental writing that almost disappeared in the 1800's.

Same sound world as Canning's Fantasy on a Hymn Tune.

I greatly enjoyed the Eberwein. The music is in the Late classical style, and has an ambitious scale. Similar to Ries. The performances are problematic, but not so much as to distract.

A performance of Vieuxtemps 3rd String quartet has appeared on IMSLP

https://imslp.org/wiki/String_Quartet_No.3,_Op.52_(Vieuxtemps,_Henri)#IMSLP836689