Franz Joseph Haydn

Just 10 months ago we released the first volume in the new Martha Argerich Collection (the solo recodings). Over 10,000 boxes of the 8-CD set have been sold since then.

Here now is Volume 2 – the Concerto Recordings, on 7 CDs, comprising all of her concerto recordings with Deutsche Grammophon, from her scintillating début playing Prokofiev and Ravel under Claudio Abbado in 1967 to her most recent collaboration with the same conductor in 2004. In between come classic recordings of Chopin, Liszt, Tchaikovsky and Beethoven with Charles Dutoit, Mstislav Rostropovich and Giuseppe Sinopoli, as well as a memorable collaboration with Gidon Kremer (in Mendelssohn) and dazzling virtuosity in Haydn and Shostakovich.

The cover is still more alluring, the contents equally fascinating, and the packaging just as attractive – with original LP-cover artwork, new liner notes (by Jed Distler again) and rare photos. The recordings have been newly mastered for this release.

This box will be followed up by one more to include Martha Argerich’s complete Chamber Ensemble recordings for Deutsche Grammophon (2010).

Most of Haydn's concertos are early works, written in the years immediately before or after his engagement at the Esterhazy court in 1761. During that time, he composed four violin concertos, of which three-all except Hob.VIIa, No.2 in D major - survive, none of them in autograph form. Hob.VIIa No.3, in A major turned up only in 1949.

Leopold Hofmann (1738-1793) was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the most gifted and influential composers of his generation. Although a church musician by profession, Hofmann was also an important and prolific composer of instrumental music. His symphonies, concertos and chamber works were played all over Europe and the avidity with which they were collected is attested to by the large number of surviving manuscript copies. Hofmann was famed for his violin playing and several of his concertos were probably written for his own use. He held a number of important church music positions in Vienna, foremost among them, that of Kapellmeister at St Stephan's Cathedral (1772-1793) and also served for some years as Hofklaviermeister.

Ernest Ansermet was the first conductor to record the six "Paris" symphonies of Haydn. Charming works, full of humorous touches, they were reissued often on LP, with some of the most entertaining covers ever seen (these are reproduced in the booklet).

First volume in a major reissue series collecting all of Maurice Andre’s Erato recordings.

‘It is no exaggeration to say that during the last half-century Maurice André (b.1933) has had no competition as a trumpet soloist. His greatest legacy lies in the Erato catalogue: a prolific series of recordings that covers the majority of established instrumental composers of the Baroque and early Classical periods, with a plethora of Continental and British orchestras and several of the world’s leading organists (most notably, Marie-Claire Alain). André also studiously assembled a collection of dazzling twentieth-century works, both extant and commissioned. The reappearance of these recordings in such comprehensive formats — several works appear in different performances, while the majority appear on CD for the first time — reminds us how this supreme instrumentalist, perhaps unwittingly, lured an unsuspecting public to admire a solo trumpet as they would any other concerto instrument. Erato billed Maurice André as “Le Grand Trompettiste de Notre Temps”, not just because he could play better than any of his contemporaries but because of his influence; he gave the public music that was largely unknown and yet sounded somehow familiar, resonating so essentially in the most fertile and recognisable traditions of the instrument, namely the opulent and lyrical world of the mature.’ (Taken from the booklet essay by Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, trumpet player and Principal of the Royal Academy, London).

Where known, booklet includes original LP number, recording date and venue.

This 3 CD set in the Berlin Classics “Basics” series gives an overview of Haydn’s works including the Surprise Symphony, Piano concerto in D Major, The Emperor String Quartet and highlights from the Creation.

Melodious, virtuosic, and with the added bonus of being fresh to the repertoire - Haydn's soprano arias are among the most beautiful artefacts of Viennese Classicism, especially when they are sung with immaculate clarity as here by Simona Šaturová. Widely praised for her crystalline voice, exquisite focus and musical expression, Simona Šaturová is in international demand in opera and concert. She was born in Bratislava, Slovakia and studied with Ileana Cotrubas in Vienna. In January 2009 Ms. Saturova sang in a performance of the Mozart C Minor Mass for the 85th birthday of Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican.