Southwest german chamber orchestra –

Six overtures op. 2

William Smethergell's oeuvre presents an intriguing challenge. Since little more is known of his life than his birth date and the fact that he worked as an organist at two London churches and as a violist at the Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, we must form our impression of him solely through his music. That impression is certainly favorable-at least if we go by the two sets of six overtures published as Op. 2 (1778) and Op. 5 (1780): Brilliantly scored, richly orchestrated works-ingenious, lively, and full of variety, bearing witness to Smethergell's great melodic inventiveness," was the verdict of klassik-heute on Op. 5 (CD 555 540-2), which Douglas Bostock and the Southwest German Chamber Orchestra Pforzheim introduced to us in 2023. The same ensemble now completes the dozen with the equally attractive Op. 2, a collection widely admired in late 18th-century London and beyond, and is now winning new friends."

Country of Pressing	US
Artist	Southwest German Chamber Orchestra
Released	2025
Music Genre	Classical
Label	CPO RECORDS
Condition	New
UPC	761203554126
SKU	al-761203554126

1.1 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 1 in E flat major. Allegro
1.2 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 1 in E flat major. Adagio
1.3 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 1 in E flat major. Allegro assai
1.4 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 2 in G major. Allegro
1.5 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 2 in G major. Andante
1.6 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 2 in G major. Allegro
1.7 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 3 in B flat major. Lago, staccato
1.8 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 3 in B flat major. Andante
1.9 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 3 in B flat major. Presto
1.10 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 4 in F major. Allegro
1.11 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 4 in F major. Andante
1.12 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 4 in F major. Presto
1.13 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 5 in D major. Allegro
1.14 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 5 in D major. Andante
1.15 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 5 in D major. Presto
1.16 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 6 in E flat major. Allegro
1.17 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 6 in E flat major. Larghetto
1.18 Six Overtures in Eight Parts, Op. 2~Overture No. 6 in E flat major. Tempo di Minuetto