Cello Concerto No.1 in C major, Hob.VIIb:1

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Joseph Haydn's Cello Concerto No. 1 in C major, Hob. VIIb:1, composed between 1761 and 1765, is a masterpiece of the classical concerto repertoire.
For nearly two centuries, this concerto was believed lost, until it was rediscovered in 1961 in the archives of the Prague National Museum.
This remarkable find has since established the concerto as one of the finest examples of its kind.

The concerto showcases a perfect balance between the soloist and the orchestra, with the cello delivering virtuosic passages while maintaining a graceful dialogue with the ensemble.
It opens with a stately Moderato, rich in thematic material, followed by a deeply expressive Adagio, where the cellist’s warm, lyrical tone takes centre stage.
The work concludes with an energetic Allegro molto, full of spirited melodies and technical brilliance.

Anecdote

An intriguing anecdote surrounds the rediscovery of this concerto.
In 1961, Czech musicologist Oldřich Pulkert found the long-lost manuscript in the archives of the Prague National Museum.
Once verified as Haydn's original work, it was hailed as a significant musical treasure.

Today, it is a beloved standard in the cello repertoire, renowned for both its emotional depth and virtuosic demands.
Haydn likely composed the concerto for his colleague, Joseph Weigl, the 1st cellist in Prince Esterházy's orchestra.
Joseph Haydn, the orchestra's Kapellmeister, was the godfather at the baptism of Weigl jr. Due to the death of the prince, the Esterházy orchestra had been abolished between 1790 and 1794, but after the death of its successor, that music chapel was revitalised in 1794.

The new prince requested Haydn (who was still officially Kapellmeister) to take up his post again.
However, an arrangement was made whereby Joseph Weigl would step in for his godfather if necessary.
This allowed the ‘old’ Haydn to retain his freedom.