František Benda, also known as Franz Benda, was a prominent Bohemian violinist and composer who played a key role in the development of violin technique during the late Baroque period. Born on February 22, 1709, in Benátky nad Jizerou in Bohemia (now part of the Czech Republic), Benda was part of a widespread dynasty of musicians, including his brother Georg Anton Benda, who made significant contributions to classical music.

Franz Benda's career flourished when he became a member of the court orchestra in Dresden and later served as Konzertmeister (concertmaster) at the court of Frederick the Great in Berlin, where he was one of the king's favored musicians. His body of work is predominantly rooted in the Baroque tradition but also exhibits the galant style that heralded the Classical era. Benda was renowned for his expressive playing and composed primarily for the violin, crafting music that highlighted the instrument's lyrical potential.

His compositional output includes numerous violin concertos, sonatas, and chamber works. Many of his compositions were designed to showcase his virtuosity and the emotive qualities of the violin, traits that are richly displayed in albums such as "Benda: Sonatas & Capriccios," "Franz Benda: Symphonies & Concertos," and "Benda: Violin Concertos," among others. He also wrote a significant number of flute concertos, which are characteristic of the late Baroque concerto grosso form and have been widely recorded and performed, evident in releases like "Benda: Flute Concertos" and "František Benda: Flute Concertos." Benda left an indelible mark on the music world before his death on March 7, 1786, in Potsdam and his works continue to be celebrated for their lyrical beauty and finesse.

Genres

Baroque

Bohemian Baroque

Classical Era

Galante Era

Latest Release

Solo c-Moll: II. Allegro

Franz Benda

Single - Released February 16, 2024