Haydn 2032, Vol. 15 - La Reine

The fifteenth installment in the Haydn2032 series is titled "La Reine". One might think this nickname refers to Empress Maria Theresa of Austria, queen of numerous territories, but in reality, the monarch honored by the popular title of Symphony No. 85 is her daughter, Marie Antoinette. It is said that this symphony was the favorite piece of "La Reine de France," which is also the full moniker of the work. The latest installment also includes Symphony No. 50, which delighted the Empress's ears when she visited Prince Nicolaus Esterházy at his "Hungarian Versailles" in 1773. Symphony No. 62, from 1780—the 40th anniversary of Maria Theresa's accession to the throne and also the final year of an eventful and glorious life—completes this installment of the complete symphony recordings conducted by Giovanni Antonini, here at the helm of the Kammerorchester Basel.