The ‘Paris Symphonies’ by Joseph Haydn are the most popular among his 104 symphonies. Played by the Zurich Chamber Orchestra with strong doses of both historical information and fertile imagination, the music is overwhelming fascinating and charming. The recording was made with a fairly large orchestra by 18th century standards, of 30 players.

Sir Roger Norrington is best known for historically informed performances of Baroque, Classical and Romantic music. He is one of the great masters of the historically informed performance movement. Norrington has advocated a limited or no use of vibrato in orchestral performances, which has brought him both acclaim and criticism.

Zurich Chamber Orchestra was founded immediately after the Second World War by Edmond de Stoutz, and is now one of the leading ensembles of its kind. Under the baton of Edmond de Stoutz, and later of Howard Griffiths and Muhai Tang, the ensemble established and consolidated its status as a chamber orchestra of international importance. Sir Roger Norrington has been the orchestra’s Principal Conductor since season 2011/12.