Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Anyone heard of Joseph Wolfl?

I listened to his first piano concerto on King FM this morning. It sounded a bit like late Mozart with some of the complexity and gymnastics of Beethoven. I found it to be quite beautiful and I’d like to hear more of his music. The announcer said Wolfl once challenged Beethoven to a piano duel and LVB crushed him.

Is anyone else familiar with him? Any listening recommendations?

I first heard of Wölfl via Bavouzet's CD of Beethoven connections:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZJ8ZTYKd3A

....though I have to say that listening to the four composers' piano music one after the other, it's evident that Wölfl's is the least memorable of them, even though this movement seems directly descended from Mozart (albeit without Wolfie's distinctive chromatic twists and melodic inspiration) and foreshadows Beethoven in its rhythmic insistence.

Thanks bennevis. Interesting observation about Wolfl. I just finished listening to the sonata. I like it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Woelfl
https://imslp.org/wiki/Category:Woelfl%2C_Joseph

Scordatura, I'm perfectly capable of looking things up. I was asking for recommendations, opinions and insights.