Serenades

- The first recording on CD of these two Serenades by Beethoven, performed on authentic instruments with all the vigour and excitement these works ask for.

- Although virtually nothing is known about the origin of these works, they are believed to have been composed within a short time of each other sometime in the period 1796-1797.

- Beethoven himself called these works Serenades and as such they are the only two works in his complete oeuvre with this title which suggests open air performances. Both are written in the light divertimento style and are admirable for the composer's immense skill which lies behind the delicate balancing of the seemingly simplicity of the music.

- The musicians who form the Schönbrunn Ensemble are all specialists in the field of authentic performance practice. Marten Root is among others the principal flute in such orchestras as Anima Eterna and the Netherlands Bach Society, and he is also regularly invited to perform with John Elliott Gardiner. Next to an impressive career as soloist, Johannes Leertouwer also plays with Anima Eterna and with the Netherlands Bach Society, and he is also leader of his own ensemble La Boren. lrmgard Schaller is a member of Anima Eterna as is Viola de Hoog, who is also the cellist of the famous Schönberg Quartet. They all play on authentic instruments - Johannes Leertouwer on a violin by Cornelis Kleynman, Amsterdam 1683; Irmgard Schaller on a viola built by Simon Andrew Forster in London, c. 1840; Viola de Hoog on a 'cello by Johannes Cuypers, The Hague 1766, and Marten Root on a beautiful copy by Rudolf Tutz of an original flute built by Heinrich Grenser from around 1800. For CCS they have made a recording of the complete Mozart Flute Quartets which was hailed by the international press as one of the most outstanding performances ever of these works.