Duality - Zimmermann/Vaňhal: Bassoon Concertos

The bassoon as a solo instrument is not very common in the concerto literature, but a concerto for two bassoons is really rare and could only be created in an ensemble that has two soloists for this instrument. Such a double concerto has been performed for many years under the name of the important Czech composer Jan Křtitel Vaňhal. But what if it had actually been composed by someone else? This question was raised by Ondřej Šindelář, a classical bassoon player, who found the same concerto in a Prague archive under the name Anton Zimmermann. The two works differ from each other only in the slow movement. Theft? Plagiarism? A mistake by the copyist? Collegial help? We are left with the unsolved mysteries of authorship and the question of whether the two masters may have met. Vaňhal's travels took him from Hradec Králové to Vienna, Italy, Hungary and Croatia. After establishing himself professionally in Hradec Králové, Zimmermann continued his successful career in Bratislava in the service of Archbishop Józef Batthyány. Importantly, however, Ondřej Šindelář has now teamed up with his former teacher, bassoon virtuoso Sergio Azzolini, to record Zimmermann's version of the Double Concerto in a world premiere, complemented by a solo concerto by Zimmermann (also a premiere) and one of Vaňhal's three surviving concertos. Remarkable music that was previously undiscovered, played by wonderful soloists and a great orchestra - this is a true musical feast.