Various Composers - Mozart’s Contemporaries (La Speranza)

Information

• Hyacinthe Jadin - String Quartet in F major, Op. 4 no. 2
• Joseph Eybler - String Quartet in E flat major, Op. 10 no. 1
• Paul Wranitzky - String Quartet, Op. 23 no. 2

La Speranza

    Maria Lin, violin

    Joanna Becker, violin

    Yvonne Smith, viola

    Francis Koiner, cello

Date: 2025

Label: Navona

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Many gifted artists have been forgotten because they lived in the shadow of greater fame, a fate especially common among late 18th-century composers eclipsed by Mozart. Texas-based string quartet La Speranza seeks to revive such overlooked voices, and Mozart’s Contemporaries may be their most impressive effort. The all-woman ensemble performs lively, engaging works by Jadin, Eybler, and Wranitzky—talented composers neglected largely through circumstance rather than merit. These pieces sparkle with charm and technical brilliance, offering music that is light, exuberant, and as refreshing and intoxicating as a fine summer wine.

La Speranza is a chamber music ensemble dedicated to bringing hope and beauty to audiences through vibrant performances of both well-known and overlooked 18th- and 19th-century repertoire. Using historical instruments, the group reimagines music of the past to create meaningful, contemporary connections with audiences and communities. Based in Houston, La Speranza presents an annual concert series and a biennial multi-concert festival, and has toured with support from organizations such as the Houston Arts Alliance. Founded in 2016, the ensemble is named for the Italian word for “hope” and is led by violinists Joanna Becker and Maria Lin, violist and founder Yvonne Smith, and cellist Fran Koiner.