Přemysl Vojta introduces us to four little known horn concertos by Michael Haydn and Joseph Haydn, together with Fabrice Millischer (trombone), the Haydn Ensemble Prague (comprising leading principals and soloists of the Czech orchestras) and conductor Martin Petrák.

It is difficult to ascertain how many horn concertos Joseph Haydn and his younger brother Michael wrote. Certain works are lost; others are erroneously ascribed, or their authenticity is at least doubtful. One of the concertos has even been ascribed by different musicologists to Joseph and to Michael Haydn, but it may have been written by another person entirely. The two brothers wrote most of their concertos for the widest variety of solo instruments, but usually in the same type of situation: i.e. once they had assumed important posts at the head of renowned court orchestras.

Joseph Haydn became Kapellmeister for the Esterházy princes in 1761, and Michael became concertmaster of the Salzburg archdiocese court orchestra in 1763. The court musicians in both orchestras were virtuosos in their own right, and one of the tasks of a Kapellmeister consisted in composing new works that permitted them to display their outstanding abilities in the presence of their sovereigns.

Přemysl Vojta counts as one of the upcoming premiere horn players in Europe. He won first prize and a series of special prizes at the renowned International ARD Music Competition in 2010. He has performed at many festivals and is principal horn of the WDR Symphony Orchestra.