Smaller independent labels often seem to favour second-string composers in a bid to stand out from the superfluous proliferation of music that comes from the same-old repertoire and which more avid music-lovers are growing tired of. Carl Reinecke has his rightful place under these labels, along with composers such as Bruch, Danzi and Weinberg, to name but a few. After meeting Mendelssohn and Schumann in Leipzig, Reinecke went to Northern Germany and Denmark to further his musical education before going to Paris, where he lived for several years. He was a music director in Leipzig for thirty-five years, a remarkable pianist and a greatly admired teacher. His refined and rather classical repertoire included music for theatre, chamber and symphonic music, as is evidenced by this recording of two symphonies and several instrumental extracts from his most famous opera, König Manfred, premiered in Wiesbaden in 1867. Reinecke was a leading figure and one of the very many distinguished composers whose talent helped shape 19th -century music. So, is it unfair that history only recalls the work of a select few composers whose work is played to the death? Probably – and that’s why bold publications like this deserve credit for unveiling a long-lost repertoire of music. The answer perhaps lies in listening to these works which are rather well-made but tend to use great works as their model and therefore seem to lack real inspiration. © François Hudry/Qobuz