Haydn, Joseph - Sinfonien Nr. 41, 44, 47
"For my musicians and me, the playing of Haydn's symphonies is both an extremely interesting task and a major challenge. However, this ambitious project offers a unique chance to experience at first hand the development of the classic symphony. In times of musical (and social) change, Haydn was a man of the "Sturm and Drang" age, a highly emotional person as well as a seeker and finder. Conveying this to the listener, acquainting him with Joseph Haydn the experimenter, and with the boldness and beauty of his impassioned musical contrasts, will be our task.
Our interpretations are based on the knowledge of historical performance practices. On questions of instrumentation, we will orient ourselves to the conditions that Haydn found or could expect. As opposed to "modern" string and woodwind instruments I have decided for historical instruments in the case of the brass. Their sound, in particular, corresponds with Haydn's concept much more than that of today's instruments. The case is similar for the timpani, where the instrument we use spanned with calfskin. I am very happy to have found, in hänssler CLASSIC, a partner for "our Haydn" which is just as competent as it is committed." - Thomas Fey