The City of London Sinfonia was founded in 1971 by Music Director, Richard Hickox. The Sinfonia has toured all over the world, performing at world-renowned concert halls in countries such as Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Greece, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Spain, Switzerland and Turkey. In London, the Sinfonia regularly performs at The Barbican, one of London’s première venues, and regularly participates in some of the world’s leading music festivals.

Andrew Watkinson is the distinguished leader of the City of London Sinfonia, while still retaining a career as a concert soloist. He was one of the first pupils at the Yehudi Menhuin School of Music, and subsequently studied in Switzerland and St Petersburg. Competition successes launched him on a career as a soloist, and he has specialised in the field of baroque music, often directing the orchestra from the leader’s desk. In constant demand throughout the UK as he soloist, he is a frequent broadcaster, with recordings for Chandos and ASV already in the catalogue.

Czech by birth, Vaňhal studied in Vienna with Dittersdorf, spent some time in Italy, suffered from mental illness on his return, but eventually settled again in Vienna. There he taught and composed, on one recorded occasion playing the cello in a quartet with Mozart, Haydn and Dittersdorf. He was prolific as a composer.

Choral and Vocal Music
Vaňhal provided some 60 settings of the Mass as well as settings of other liturgical texts. His secular songs include one in English, published in London in 1782, and other German and Italian settings. His operas are lost.

Orchestral Music
Vaňhal’s orchestral music includes over 70 symphonies, with a varied collection of concertos. The symphonies represent an important element in the development of the form.

Chamber and Instrumental Music
Vaňhal was equally prolific as a composer of chamber music, composing a quantity of quartets, trios and duos. He also wrote many works for keyboard, some of them topically programmatic, including celebrations of the battles of Aboukir Bay and of Trafalgar.