VIDEO PODCAST: Come and meet Eric Fraad of Heresy Records, Kenneth Woods, musical director of Colorado MahlerFest and the English Symphony Orchestra and others.
Austrian composer Johann Michael Haydn, the younger brother of the more famous Franz Joseph Haydn, was born in Rohrau, Austria, on 14 September 1737. He sang as a boy treble at St Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna, and then worked as Kapellmeister at Nagyvárad and then Salzburg.
Michael Haydn's catalogue runs to hundreds of works - mostly church and instrumental music. He taught Carl Maria von Weber and Anton Diabelli.
The Haydn brothers retained a good relationship, and Michael died in Salzburg, aged 68, on 10 August 1806.
CD Spotlight. Spiritual Gravitas and Edifying Beauty - Gerald Fenech is moved by Johann Michael Haydn's vocal and choral music. 'Roberta Paraninfo and her Italian choristers deliver riveting performances full of immaculate singing that penetrates straight to the heart, and Michael Haydn's superb choral writing is brought to the fore with flowing simplicity.'
Ensemble. Easter Mozart - Ton Koopman conducts the Mass in C and the Jupiter Symphony, heard by Giuseppe Pennisi
Ensemble. Unassuming Radiance - Mike Wheeler makes special mention of soprano Lisa Cassidy in Derby Bach Choir's Michael Haydn, Mozart and Joseph Haydn
CD Spotlight. Entirely Vivifying - Eighteenth century gallery hymns, recommended by the late Howard Smith. '... direct, unassuming religiosity.'
CD Spotlight. A Marvelous Listen - Hymn tunes played by William Neil, experienced by Gerald Fenech. '... spectacular and life enhancing ...'
CD Spotlight. A Eupeptic Vitality - Mozart and Michael Haydn for violin and viola, heard by Robert Anderson. '... Maya Magub makes a very effective protagonist ...'
Ensemble. Wonderful Mozart - Bill Newman listens to the Razumovsky Ensemble