Haydn: Cello Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 - Monn: Cello Concerto (Remastered, 2014)

Haydn’s concertos tend to be less well-known than his symphonies, but the two cello concertos in particular have attracted many excellent recordings. The French cellist Jean-Guihen Queyras’ is among the very finest. Partnered by the zippy, period instrument playing of the Freiburger Barockorchester, Queyras charts an elegant course through Concerto No. 1’s dapper opening movement, while igniting the afterburners in an exhilarating traversal of the scuttling finale. Queyras’ songful account of Concerto No. 2’s slow movement is another highlight, and the inclusion of a cello concerto by Haydn’s contemporary Monn is a valuable bonus. Atmospherically remastered in Spatial Audio, this classic 2004 recording has never sounded better.