“The music-loving English poet John Keats wrote that Haydn is like a child: you never know what he is going to do next. He is absolutely correct, for Haydn kept his playful character combined with an increasing depth in his music throughout his life and it is primarily this aspect of his character that causes us to feel so irresistibly drawn to his music.” Quirine Viersen
The two cello concertos are coupled on this new recording with Symphony No.60 Per la Commedia intitulata Il Distratto, providing a wonderful observation of Haydn’s orchestral works and contribution to the classical styles. Quirine Viersen is often among the winners in international competitions, including the 1990 Rostropovich Competition in Paris and the 1991 International Cello Competition in Helsinki. In 1994, Quirine became the first Dutch musician to win a prize at the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition. Since its foundation in 1982, the Combattimento Consort Amsterdam has performed musiccomposed between 1600 and 1800 under its artistic director Jan Willem de Vriend.