Maddalena Del Gobbo / Robert Bauerstatter / David Pennetzdorfer / Ewald Donhoffer MADDALENA AND THE PRINCE

“Join me in dipping into the world of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, who was known as “the Magnificent”, and his beloved music. The baryton, the instrument on this album, is also magnificent: six (gut) strings to be bowed, nine or more resonating strings (made of metal), a carved head atop the neck, delicate ornamentation and a noble, graceful sound.

Maddalena and the Prince: the prince being Nikolaus Esterházy as well as the noble instrument – in my opinion the baryton is the “prince” of instruments, which can produce the loveliest and most charming sound and whose appearance alone makes hearts leap.

The thrill of recording these works in the Haydnsaal of the Esterházy Palace, drinking in the atmosphere of this magical location while playing, was an unforgettable experience for me and one for which I am truly grateful.I hope that you will be charmed by the baryton in this recording!”

Maddalena Del Gobbo is the artistic patron of Scandinavian Cello School, a foundation that supports, promotes and educates young cellists. This is a project she holds close to her heart and she will donating a portion of her royalties of this album to the foundation.

István Mátyás HANS GÁL Orgelwerke

As a performer, Gál was first and foremost a pianist (though he made it his business to learn to play most of the standard instruments). Little is known specifically of his activities as an organ player, though in an interview given to the Südwestfunk Radio in Mainz in 1986 (at the age of 96) in which he spoke about his early career as a composer, Gál stated that:
“I was very interested in the organ at that time. I played the organ myself as a young man. In Vienna you could only play the organ in a church. I did that, I often played for a service in a church, like the Catholic church. The difference is: in Germany the position of organist at a large church was a sought-after and possible profession. In Austria this profession didn’t exist. The Catholic church never spent any money on the organist. It was mostly the local village school-master who played the organ. And so for years I helped out on the organ from time to time in small churches. So I was completely at home on the instrument.”