HAYDN2032 VOL. 15 - LA REINE

The fifteenth volume of the Haydn2032 cycle is entitled La Reine. One might think that this nickname refers to Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, queen of numerous territories, but in fact the monarch honoured by the popular title of Symphony no.85 is her daughter, Marie Antoinette. It was said to be the favourite of La Reine de France, which is the full nickname of the work. The new volume also includes Symphony no.50, which delighted the Empresss ears when she visited Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy at his Hungarian Versailles in 1773. Symphony no.62, which dates from 1780, the fortieth anniversary of Maria Theresas accession to the throne and also the last year of a life as eventful as it was glorious, rounds off this latest instalment of the complete recording of the symphonies conducted by Giovanni Antonini, here at the helm of the Basel Chamber Orchestra.