Joseph Martin Kraus was one of the most gifted and unusual composers of the eighteenth century, whose talent for thematic development, colourful orchestration and theatrical flair caused Haydn to proclaim him one of only two ‘geniuses’ he knew (Mozart being the other one). Kraus’s main interest was in music for the stage, a subject that occupied him from both a practical and theoretical standpoint for virtually his entire life. This disc couples Kraus’s two earliest surviving ballets (Pantomimes) and impromptu insertions for Gluck’s opera Armide for a production at the Stockholm Opera in 1787, with his most important work in this genre, Fiskarena. This fast-paced ballet is notable for its dramatic and forward-looking stylistic devices as well as frequent allusions to foreign dances, from England to Hungary.

Joseph Martin Kraus

Pantomime in D major, VB 37

Swedish Chamber Orchestra
Sundkvist, Petter, Conductor


I. Allegro 00:02:57
II. Adagio 00:02:47
III. Presto 00:01:57
Fiskarena (The Fishermen), VB 40

Swedish Chamber Orchestra
Sundkvist, Petter, Conductor


Overture: Larghetto pero con moto - Allegro 00:03:35
No. 1. Andante 00:01:26
No. 2. Allegro 00:01:38
No. 3. Andante con moto 00:01:26
No. 4. Allegretto ma non troppo presto 00:04:42
No. 5. Allegretto 00:01:41
No. 6. Andante con moto 00:02:38
No. 7. Allegretto 00:04:12
No. 8. Angloise 00:01:45
No. 9. Allegro 00:00:51
No. 10. Angloise 00:01:06
No. 11. Allegro 00:01:34
No. 12. Allegro 00:01:34
No. 13. Allegretto 00:04:00
No. 14. Con piu di moto 00:00:48
No. 15. — 00:03:08
No. 16. Andante con moto 00:03:23
No. 17. Allegro 00:00:57
No. 18. Allegretto grazioso 00:01:41
No. 19. Ungherese 00:02:55
No. 20. Contradanza Finale 00:05:28
Pantomime in G major, VB 38

Swedish Chamber Orchestra
Sundkvist, Petter, Conductor


I. Allegro 00:02:38
II. Tempi di marcia 00:02:20
III. Adagio 00:01:31
IV. Allegro 00:01:27
Almide: Ballet Music, VB 39

Swedish Chamber Orchestra
Sundkvist, Petter, Conductor


Act I Scene 3: Fieramente 00:01:58
Act IV Scene I: Allegro moderato 00:01:40



Total Playing Time: 01:09:43