Hummel, conductor, composer and pianist, whose death ended the great Viennese lineage of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven, produced a series of inspired arrangements of Mozart’s symphonies between 1823–24. As a child of eight he had lodged and studied with Mozart and these arrangements demonstrate a profound understanding of his teacher’s art. He refused to vary a single harmony but did make some changes to accommodate contemporary early Romantic taste, and to bring out intensity of orchestral colour as well as offering opportunities for pianistic virtuosity. Symphonies Nos. 38–40 can be heard on Naxos 8.572841.