Dittersdorf is noted chiefly for his symphonies and his Singspiels, and he also wrote some quite distinguished string quartets. But he was a prolific composer in all genres, producing music to serve the needs of the relatively minor courts at which he was employed. The pieces here, written fairly early in his career, are leisurely, galant works. The Sinfonia concertante isn’t of the same kind as the more familiar examples of that genre: it is really just a four-movement symphony with concertante parts for the viola and the double-bass, an orchestral composition with solo passages. There is some gracefully expressive music in the Andante, where the viola chiefly doubles the violins an octave below; the minuet, like those in some of the Mozart serenades, has an orchestral main section and solos in the trio. The Viola Concerto is another expansive piece, 25 minutes of music but very conventional in its thematic material, with short foursquare phrases and much repetition. Again there is some pleasantly shapely writing in the slow movement; but the gruel is fairly thin. The Divertimento, a three-movement string trio, is neatly written, with a very Austrian-sounding Minuet and a cheerful finale.
These accomplished Czech players, using modern instruments and a polished modern style (the miscellaneous harpsichord tinkles notwithstanding), bring an unassuming eloquence to the slow music and ample skill to the more virtuoso passages; the viola playing is gentle and sweet-toned, the double-bass not unduly gruff. It’s all quite agreeable, and makes a pleasing background as it no doubt did in Dittersdorf’s own day.SS