Salzburg

For her latest studio album, Hélène travels to Salzburg where she creates a fascinating juxtaposition between the eternal W A Mozart and the Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov (b 1937) Hélène has long had a passion for Silvestrov’s music, which some call post modernist or even neoclassical .."Like Arvo Pärt Silvestrov’s music is harmonic, which far from being a weakness, is an enlightenment in its own right and very powerful in its simplicity", says Hélène The composer’s own words hint at why this is for her so intriguing I do not write new music My music is a response to and an echo of what already exists".

"Strauss: Metamorphoses & Wind Sonatina No. 1" is the second album in a series of six that the Mozarteumorchester Salzburg will release on the Berlin Classics label until 2025. For this album, the orchestra has chosen the internationally renowned conductor Riccardo Minasi. Originally, a concert under his baton was to take place at Salzburg's "Großes Festspielhaus" in the 2020/21 season, but like so many events, it had to be canceled. Instead, the decision was made to record with repertoire whose instrumentation sizes were appropriate to the conditions: Richard Strauss "Metamorphosen" for 23 solo strings and the first Sonatina for 16 wind instruments. The repertoire thus selected highlights the individual sections of the orchestra, strings and winds, and illustrates the orchestra's flexibility in seemingly effortlessly realigning itself for the repertoire at hand. It further demonstrates that the orchestra's constant preoccupation with its core repertoire informs its approach to the music of later eras - impressively heard on the current album of High Romantic music by the late Richard Stauss.

A complete collection of symphonies by a small orchestra using modern instruments recorded in Salzburg, the holy land of Mozart. All digital recordings, the best part is the sound that fully retains the beauty and softness that are essential to Mozart performances. The orchestra members, who know Mozart inside and Hans Graf, who is also well versed in Mozart, are of extremely high quality, so you can enjoy every piece with confidence.

Founded in 1841 with the participation of Constanze Mozart, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg enjoys a worldwide reputation for its lively and stylistically aware interpretations. It combines Viennese classical music with the music of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries in a variety of ways. The orchestra's constant engagement with its core repertoire also shapes its approach to the music of later eras.

Founded in 1841 with the participation of Constanze Mozart, the Mozarteum Orchestra Salzburg enjoys a worldwide reputation for its lively and stylistically aware interpretations. It combines Viennese classical music with the music of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries in a variety of ways. The orchestra's constant engagement with its core repertoire also shapes its approach to the music of later eras.

Up to and including Mozart, one important task for every composer not employed by the Church was to entertain. Much of Mozart’s best-loved music consists of occasional works intended for receptions and parties, balls and banquets, ceremonies and celebrations. These pieces are known to us under a number of different names: serenades, divertimenti, Nachtmusik and notturni…