Grétry, Gossec, Pieltain, Gresnick: Concertos & Symphonies concertantes

Parisian concert halls welcomed composers and performers from throughout Europe during the second half of the 18th century, a goodly number of Walloons included. Gossec was indisputably the founder of the French symphonic tradition, although he was just as acclaimed in the fashionable Sinfonie Concertante style that had been imported from Mannheim. Grétry, uncontested master of the Opéra Comique, also presented an early work with clear Italian influences here. His compatriot, the Liège-born Pieltain, was a highly-regarded soloist at the "Concert Spirituel". Gresnick was initially based in Lyons but had his first Parisian successes shortly after the Revolution.