Franz Ignaz Beck (1734-1809) grew up and began his musical career as a violinist against the background of the Mannheim Court, with its famous orchestra then under the direction of Johann Stamitz. Legend has it that the young composer had to flee after fighting a duel: whether or not this true, he moved to Venice, where he studied under Galuppi, and then to Marseilles (as resident orchestral leader), where it is possible that these symphonies were written. Or perhaps they were written in Bordeaux, where Beck subsequently became resident conductor at the Grand Théâtre. They were published in France in 1758.

They are elegant, three-movement symphonies in the Italian style; the allegros have plenty of energy and impetus, and demand considerable bravura from the violins in their more turbulent moments (though they are not exactly Sturm und Drang!). The first, in G minor, is particularly admired but I thought the G major (No 4) the most memorable, with its delicately feminine downward scale in the strings as the first movement’s answer to the gruff, masculine opening. The remaining two movements make a nicely balanced whole, with a very successful finale.

None of this is great music but it is stylishly played and warmly recorded, and makes undemanding, agreeable listening, reminding us of the strong influence of Stamitz and his Mannheim Court orchestra. These are excellent modern-instrument performances; it would now be interesting to hear these symphonies played on period instruments.