Remarkable numbers

[Gauk]

Here is something remarkable: a composer whose first symphony is his Opus 780.

1) Can you guess who it is without looking it up? I think one can at least narrow it down with a little thought.

2) Is this a record? Did anyone ever write their first symphony with an even higher opus number?

[ahinton]

Here is something remarkable: a composer whose first symphony is his Opus 780.

1) Can you guess who it is without looking it up? I think one can at least narrow it down with a little thought.

2) Is this a record? Did anyone ever write their first symphony with an even higher opus number?

I can't answer question 2) but the answer to question 1) is Czerny and he probably didn't get around to a symphony until Op. 780 because he was too busy churning out pedagogical work for piano students.

[relm1]

Carson Cooman?

[Balapoel]

That was Czerny's first 'Published' symphony. He wrote a symphony much earlier, in 1814 (Symphony No. 1 in D), so that would probably be around Op. 9 or 10 if he had published it at the time. If one ignores his 'pedagogical' and 'brillante' work, he wrote a considerable amount of serious work (too often overlooked), including:

7 symphonies, 6 overtures, 5 (or 8 ) piano concertos and concertinos, 7 string quartets, 7 piano quartets, several piano trios, 3 violin sonatas, and 11 unique piano sonatas, 2 Te Deums and other sacred music.

[Gauk]

It is indeed Czerny, and I suspect no-one else has a higher number for their first symphony, as it has to be someone who churned out a lot of less serious works before getting round to symphonism.

[Grandenorm]

5 (or 8 ) piano concertos and concertinos

Unfortunately, most of these are lost. It's a shame.