Joseph Woelfl (1773–1812), a friend of the Mozart family from childhood, was one of the best-known musicians of his day: he was regarded as a rival of Beethoven in Vienna and a worthy successor to Haydn in the musical life of London. His late-Classical piano music sits between Mozart, Haydn and Clementi and looks forward to Schubert and Mendelssohn. This first-ever project to examine it in any detail hopes to rescue Woelfl’s once starry reputation from the folds of history. The three sonatas which open this second volume are dedicated ‘a Mr L. van Beethoven’.

“In sum, a disc of gentle pleasures that whets the appetite for future issues in Riva’s Woelfl pilgrimage.” – Gramophone, January 2017 (TOCC0383: Vol.1)

“What one hears in these sonatas is a technically accomplished composer, well able to make a complicated fugue unfold naturally. …despite his technical skills, I am most taken by Woelfl’s lighter and more lyrical moments, when his ease and grace are most in evidence. Then he has a distinctive charm. Riva plays a mellow Bösendorfer on these recordings, and he plays extremely well. …many readers will want to hear this well-played recording of forgotten music.” – Fanfare Magazine, May/June 2017 (TOCC0383)

“Hopefully it will not be too long before the next Woelfl CD leaves the presses.” – Musicweb International (TOCC0383)