Haydn: String Quartets On Period Instruments

Arcana

Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) CD 1-2 The String Quartets Op. 9 CD 3-4 The String Quartets Op. 17 CD 5-6 The String Quartets Op. 20 CD 7-8 The String Quartets Opp. 33 & 42 CD 9-10 The String Quartets Op. 50 CD 11 The String Quartets Op. 54 CD 12 The String Quartets Op. 55 CD 13-14 The String Quartets Op. 64 CD 15 The String Quartets Op. 71 CD 16 The String Quartets Op. 74 CD 17-18 The String Quartets Op. 76 CD 19 The String Quartets Opp. 77 & 103

Recorded in Budapest between 1993 and 2006, this complete set of the Haydn String Quartets performed by the Festetics Quartet represents the most challenging project accomplished by Michel Bernstein, the mythical founder of Arcana who died a few months after the recording of the very last volume. For the first time in a boxed set, this monumental achievement is the first and only complete on period instruments and features the complete 58 string quartets authenticated by the composer for the great Artaria edition, making a total of 19 CDs put in chronological order. A reference edition, enriched by the detailed essay signed by the Hungarian musicologist Laszlo Somfai, one of the most eminent Haydn scholars. The Festetics have extensively studied Haydn’s original quartet manuscripts, and have relied heavily on László Somfai.

Price: $142.98