Produkt
This set is a testament to a remarkable collaboration between the conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt (1929-2016) and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE) and its release this year marks the Orchestra's 40th anniversary. These recordings also trace the relationship between Harnoncourt and the Styriarte Festival which started in 1987 and lasted for over 30 years. The repertoire in this set features live concerts performed between 1989 and 2007.
The COE became Harnoncourt's orchestra of choice for the classics played on modern instruments. He had been the pioneer of the exploration of period-appropriate style from the early 1950s with the Concentus Musicus Wien, and followed this by exploring how modern instruments could respond in the classics by adapting to the style without having to change the instruments they were playing. Harnoncourt wanted the players to take risks and perhaps fail rather than play safe. In rehearsal, he often told the performers that great music was always on the edge of catastrophe! The set offers remarkable examples of Harnoncourt's fresh insights into his core repertoire – Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. · All these recordings are ‘live' performances, beautifully recorded producing an extra degree of spontaneity and atmosphere compared to studio recordings.
Recordings:
- Joseph Haydn - Recorded live at the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, 4 December 1999 (No.100) and at the Styriarte Festival Graz, Austria, 21 June 2004 (No.101)
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Recorded live at the Styriarte Festival, Graz, Austria, 12 July 1999 (K201) and during the Berliner Festwochen at the Philharmonie Berlin on 17 April 1996 (K320, 335)
- Ludwig van Beethoven - Recorded live at the Styriarte Festival, Graz, Austria, 23 June 2002 (Op.92) & 24 June 2007 (Op.67)
- Johannes Brahms - Recorded live at the Syriarte Festival, Graz, Austria, 10 July 1997 (Op.98) & 28 June 1999 (Op.81)