Naxos of America Releases a Special Edition, 3-CD Set Commemorating the 200th Anniversary of the Death of Haydn on the Prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Label

Nashville, TN and Vienna, Austria (Top40 Charts/ Naxos of America) - On March 30, Naxos of America, in collaboration with the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Records label, releases a special edition, 3-CD set commemorating the 200th Anniversary of Franz Joseph Haydn's death. The recording includes seven historic performances of this orchestra recorded live at the Vienna Musikverein, Wiener Konzerthaus, and the Lucerne Festival, and features conductors Christoph von Dohna'nyi, Zubin Mehta, Franz Welser-Mo"st, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, and Pierre Boulez.

This special edition provides insight into Haydn's vast symphonic output, and furnishes a selective documentation of the Vienna Philharmonic's Haydn interpretations. Featured performances include seven symphonies from different periods of Haydn's creativity, which were recorded by the Vienna Philharmonic with five different conductors over a period of 37 years. The oldest recording is under the baton of Zubin Mehta and dates from 1972. It is followed by concerts from 1991 with Christoph von Dohna'nyi; 1996 with Pierre Boulez; 1998 and 2009 with Franz Welser-Mo"st; and three recordings from the 2009 anniversary year under Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

The CD set includes symphonies from the 1760's, when Haydn was searching and experimenting, striving to find himself and make his name; and from the 1790's, when he was established as a world famous composer, but still experimenting in order to retain his audiences' attention through constant innovation. The first three symphonies were conceived for and based upon his experiences at Prince Esterhazy's Court. The latter four symphonies were composed in London for public concerts in a middle class musical scene, which closely resembled present day experience with the music industry and concert life. Here Haydn had to justify his reputation, measure up to the competition, and repeatedly win the hearts of his listeners.

Recordings included:

Symphony No 12, E major; Christoph von Dohna'nyi; November 10, 1991, Vienna, Musikverein;

Symphony No 22, E-flat major; Zubin Mehta; January 16, 1972, Vienna, Musikverein;

Symphony No 26, D minor; Franz Welser-Mo"st; March 22, 1998, Vienna, Musikverein;

Symphony No 93, D major; Nikolaus Harnoncourt; May 10, 2009, Vienna, Wiener Konzerthaus;

Symphony No 98, B-flat major; Franz Welser-Mo"st; September 8, 2009, Lucerne Festival;

Symphony No 103, E-flat major; Nikolaus Harnoncourt; May 10, 2009, Vienna, Wiener Konzerthaus;

Symphony No 104, D major; Pierre Boulez; March 24, 1996, Vienna, Musikverein.