One may find a certain simplicity and naïveté in Josef Myslivecek's early Classical symphonies and overtures, since they are fairly rudimentary and barely distinguishable in form; and, lacking the sophistication and complexity found in Haydn's and Mozart's later, fully developed works, they may seem weak and unrewarding to all except scholars and fans of Rococo music. This 2004 double-disc from CPO presents six symphonies composed in 1772, the Symphony No. 5 in G minor, Op. 1, from 1764, and five overtures from operas written between 1769 and 1778. Whether intended as concert works or as operatic introductions, these pieces are uniform in their three-movement structures, and free of any innovative features or peculiarities that would make them stand out from other mediocre symphonies of the time. The
L'Orfeo Baroque Orchestra, conducted by
Michi Gaigg, plays original instruments and observes all the fine points of period practice, so Myslivecek's compositions are presented with great sound and refined execution; but the orchestra's vibrant timbres and scrupulous care are insufficient to make these uninspired pieces anything more than pleasant divertissements. CPO's recording quality is fine.