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HAYDN - La Passione
Symphonies 41, 49, 44.
Artiste: Arion
Guest conductor : Gary Cooper
EMCCD7769 · Price: 17.40$ CAD

This is a world premier recording of Symphony 41 with the composer’s originally intended instrumentation.

This exciting new recording from the Arion Baroque Orchestra is just in time for the Haydn bicentennial celebration. But more than merely commemorating his death, this CD is also a celebration of his life, to quote Arion’s Artistic Director Claire Guimond. It radiates the composer’s inimitable and very communicative energy in a choice of his most passionate symphonies written between 1768 and 1772, from his so-called “Sturm und Drang” period. While the “Passione” and “Trauer” symphonies both refer to death in an often very emotionally charged manner, Symphony No. 41 in C major — heard here for the first time on disc in its original instrumentation — is an epitome of high spirits and charm.

“From the very first rehearsal,” says British conductor Gary Cooper, well-known as one of the foremost ambassadors of the harpsichord and fortepiano, “I knew this recording would be a special one. In attempting to re-create something much closer to the sound world Haydn would have known at Esterháza, by using the modest forces he would have had at his disposal, I feel Arion have more than risen to the challenge! With such spirit, musicianship, flair and energy, they have brought these wonderful, dramatic symphonies back to life for me — but in such a new and refreshing way. You can hear they love every note of this music!”

Click here for a larger cover photo.

Click here to see a video made during the recording of this CD.

FRESCOBALDI - Affetti cantibile
Works by Girolamo Frescobaldi (1583-1643)
Artiste: Hank Knox - harpsichord
EMCCD7767 · Price: 17.40$ CAD

Often dedicated to powerful patrons and perhaps heard by the likes of John Milton at private gatherings or public performances in Rome, many of Frescobaldi’s harpsichord works featured here display a new manner of playing with song-like affect, or “affetti cantabile.” The instrument heard here is an important musical personality in its own right. It was built in Italy during the seventeenth century by an anonymous maker and bears the signature “F.A. 1677”.

One savours (…) the natural manner in which Hank Knox makes the figures speak, the fluctuations in tempo, the breathing, and the easy grace with which he transforms scales and runs into supple arabesques...

L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato - Handel.

Arion has just given the final concert of its 28th. season with 2 performances in Montreal and one in Quebec City.

The audience were enthusiastic, giving standing ovations, and the press comment was also very favourable, though occasionally whimsical !

Arthur Kapitainis in the Montreal Gazette said:

The tenor-and-chorus number starting with the words “These Delights,” complete with regal trumpets and drums, was wonderfully direct and robust. Sometimes I think Handel would have heartily applauded Monty Python's "I'm a Lumberjack, and I'm O.K.”

The full article can be seen here:

Gazette

Other press comment (in french) can be found at these links:
Claude Gingras dans La Presse

Richard Boisvert dans le Soleil

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