WORLD PREMIERE RECORDING "Mirthful and very pleasantly written" is how a contemporary reviewer described the instrumental music of Johann Wilhelm Wilms. Helen Dabringhaus and Sebastian Berakdar, presents the world premiere recording of the three Flute Sonatas op. 15 by this German composer and Dutch resident-by-choice. This enchanting programme is not only extremely entertaining, but also fills a gap in the history of reception between Mozart and Mendelssohn. Born in Germany, the young Wilms soon made his way to Amsterdam, where he rapidly made a career as flautist, pianist, organist, and concert organiser. His marriage to the daughter of a very wealthy Amsterdam art collector shows the high reputation he enjoyed. Wilms only found time to compose on the side - a pity, really, because we know very little of his beautiful music. The fact that Wilms, as a "foreigner", composed the anthem of the newly founded Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1816 is proof of the esteem in which the industrious musician was held in his adopted country.
