Joseph Haydn

Violoncello Concerto in C Major, HobVIIb:1

Franz Josef Haydn's beautiful Concerto in C major for Violoncello and Orchestra is a treat as well as an absolute requirement for any serious 'cellist. Strangely, though, it lay dormant and unknown in a Prague library until it was discovered in 1961 and brought to light after nearly two hundred years! Since its reintroduction it has become one of the most popular of all violoncello concerti, and deservedly so. This concerto was most likely written in the mid-1760s while Haydn was Kapellmeister to Prince Esterházy. Its splendid, memorable themes perfectly showcase the solo instrument against a beautifully and sensitively orchestrated backdrop, all of which come together to illustrate Papa Haydn's mastery of form, melody and orchestration. Its lovely classical charm, beautifully captured here by virtuoso Roman Wiszniowski and the Plovdiv Philharmonic, will enchant you from beginning to end. Then play it yourself with maestro Todorov and the Plovdiv Philharmonic as your accompanists! This MMO learning and performance edition of one of the great classical 'cello masterpieces is not to be missed! This deluxe 2CD set includes a slow-tempo practice version to help you get up to speed. Includes an authoritative, newly engraved music score printed on high-quality ivory paper, and informative liner notes; a digital stereo compact disc featuring a complete performance of the concerto with orchestra and soloist, and a second performance minus you, the soloist; and a second compact disc containing a full-speed version of the complete version as well as a special -20% slow-tempo version of the accompaniment for practice purposes. The concerto is voluminously indexed for your practice and performance convenience. Includes cadenzas composed by Wolfgang Boettcher.