Johann Stiastny: Works for Two Violoncellos, Vol. 4

Little is known about the cellist and composer Johann Stiastny, and what is known contradicts each other in the sources. It begins with his name: František Jan Št’astný, also known as Jean Stiasny or, indeed, Johann Stiastny, was probably born in Prague around 1764, as the son of oboist Jan Št’astný (and as younger brother of cellist Bernard Václav Št’astný). This album marks the conclusion of the project by the two cellists Alexander Hülshoff and Martin Rummel, which aimed to systematically make Johann Stiastny’s repertoire for cello duos accessible to contemporary music audiences. On this album Staistny’s Op. 5 appears in a duo version, which is presumably based on an arrangement or adaptation for two cellos. The Six Solos from Op. 11 exist in a version for two cellos, and one of the duos from this version was selected for this recording.