Looking forward to the three hundredth anniversary of the birth of Haydn in 2032, the Joseph Haydn Stiftung Foundation of Basel has joined forces with...

Looking forward to the three hundredth anniversary of the birth of Haydn in 2032, the Joseph Haydn Stiftung Foundation of Basel has joined forces with the Alpha label to make a complete recording of the composer’s 107 symphonies. This ambitious project is placed under the artistic direction of Giovanni Antonini, who will share the recordings between his ensemble Il Giardino Armonico and the Basel Chamber Orchestra, which he conducts regularly. The aim is to celebrate one of the most significant and prolific composers in the history of music, who left us a rich oeuvre of more than three hundred works. Seeing the music of Haydn as ‘a kaleidoscope of the human emotions,’ Giovanni Antonini has decided to tackle the symphonies not in chronological order, but in thematically based programmes. Moreover, the Italian conductor believes it is important to establish links between these works and pieces written by other composers contemporary with Haydn of in some way connected with him. Hence, alongside his symphonies, each volume will include music by figures like Gluck, Porpora, CPE Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, and Michael Haydn. Beyond its status as a unique recording venture, Haydn 2032 will also bring together leading European concert halls, which will present these programmes to their audiences. From one season to another, the artists involved in the project will breathe new life into the music of this multifaceted composer for thousands of concertgoers in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Italy. The present release is the fourth installment in this illustrious series.