JOHANN WILHELM WILMS (1772-1847): Symphonies No. 1 in C, Op. 9 and No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 23, Overture in D.

Description: This appears to be the first recording of the so-called "Symphony No. 1", which was certainly composed after the op. 14 symphony and whose first documented performance was on New Year's Day of 1806. Both this and the op. 23 come from a stylistic world similar to that of Haydn's London symphonies although in "No. 1", the first and third movements also have models in Beethoven's First. Regardless of his models, Wilms makes these works his own with numerous original touches of construction and development well documented by the notes. The overture is one of five which were among his last compositions and remain unpublished and might date from 1828-9. Just under ten minutes in length, it's just like the first movement of a complete symphony in construction and style. North German Radio Philharmonic; Howard Griffiths.