Artist

Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Genre: Classical ,Orchestral ,Symphony ,Opera ,Concerto ,Choral

Origin: U.S.A

Active: 1954 - 2016

Biography

Few musicians have matched the sheer range and depth of accomplishment that defined Nikolaus Harnoncourt’s path through the repertoire. He began his professional life as a cellist in the Vienna Symphony Orchestra, yet soon turned his focus toward early music performed on period instruments, becoming one of the first established players to pursue that direction. Over an exceptionally influential span of years he steadily extended his work into later periods, earning repeated recording honors from at least six European nations together with a Gramophone Award for Special Achievement in 1990. Recordings issued across decades on the Teldec label ultimately surveyed seven centuries of musical history.

Harnoncourt often traced the shape of his artistic outlook to an upbringing overshadowed by Nazism. Born Nikolaus de la Fontaine und d’Harnoncourt in Berlin, he belonged to an aristocratic family that relocated to its historic residence in Graz, Austria. After enduring years of hardship under the regime, the family escaped to Salzburg in 1945. There he discovered his vocation, studying cello with Paul Grummer. In 1952 Herbert von Karajan admitted him to the Vienna Symphony, yet his interests already pointed elsewhere. While still a student he grew captivated by original Baroque instruments gathering dust in antique shops and questioned why working musicians ignored these resources when performing the music of their own era.

With his wife Alice he established the Concentus Musicus Wien in 1953, the first professional ensemble devoted to Baroque repertory. Drawing colleagues from the symphony, they spent four years mastering period instruments before making a striking entrance on the European stage in 1957. Their initial recording presented Purcell’s Viol Fantasias, after which came a succession of widely praised accounts of Bach’s major works. During the 1970s Harnoncourt joined Gustav Leonhardt in recording the complete cycle of Bach cantatas. Meanwhile Concentus Musicus explored large portions of the Baroque canon, including Monteverdi’s operas as well as music by Telemann, Rameau, and Fux. In time the conductor broadened his activities to encompass Haydn and Mozart with Concentus Musicus and, with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, the Berlin Philharmonic, and the Concertgebouw Orchestra, major nineteenth-century symphonic and operatic scores, among them a million-selling traversal of the Beethoven symphonies. From 1972 to 1993 he served as professor of performance practice at the Salzburg Mozarteum and published three substantial volumes on the topic. He continued to appear regularly as a guest with the Vienna Philharmonic until health concerns prompted his retirement in late 2015. He died shortly afterward, remembered for his extensive knowledge, collaborative spirit, and the esteem in which colleagues held him.

Albums

The Revolutionary Spirit: Rediscovering the True Sound

Mendelssohn, Wagner, Schumann

"A Little Night Music" - Mozart, Bach, Beethoven

"From the New World" - Classical Treasures

"Gloria" - Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Mozart, Beethoven

Salieri: Prima la musica, poi le parole - Mozart: Der Schauspieldirektor, K. 486

'Badinerie' - Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven

Mozart: Symphony No. 40 - Bach, Handel, Monteverdi, Vivaldi

Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms...

Recorder Music on Original Instruments: Parcham, van Eyck, Lœillet, Dieupart & Telemann

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 1 - 9

Mozart: Symphonies, Serenades & Overtures

Mozart: Idomeneo, K. 366

Schmelzer: Sacro-profanus concentus musicus

Vivaldi: Le quattro stagioni

Marais / Couperin / Hotteterre

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conducts Mozart

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms

Bach, JS: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1 - 6 (Recorded 1981-82)

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conducts Bach

Harnoncourt conducts Johann Strauss II

Nikolaus Harnoncourt Conducts Sacred Masterworks

Schubert: The Symphonies

Mozart in Salzburg

J. S. Bach: Cantatas BWV 26, 36 & 140

Beethoven: Christus am Ölberge, Op. 85

Eine kleine Nachtmusik

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op. 123

Bach: Musica Sacra

Big Harnoncourt Box

Harnoncourt - The Complete Beethoven Recordings

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5

Best of New Year's Concerts - Neujahrskonzerte

Nikolaus Harnoncourt: A Portrait (Inspiration)

Mozart: Symphony No. 35, K. 320 "Haffner" & Serenade No. 9, K. 385 "Posthorn"

Musik in alten Städten & Residenzen: Wien

Händel/Mozart/Mosel: Timotheus oder die Gewalt der Musik

Schubert: Symphony No. 9 "The Great" - Mendelssohn: Die schöne Melusine

Haydn : The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross

Mozart : Overtures

Bruckner: Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4

Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 9 & No. 27

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 25

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 3, 4 & 6

Smetana: Die verkaufte Braut

Walzer Revolution

Schumann: Piano Concerto & Violin Concerto

Brahms: Ein Deutsches Requiem, Op. 45

Bach, JS : Sacred Cantatas BWV Nos 138 - 140

Haydn : Choral Works

Bach, JS : Sacred Cantatas BWV Nos 140 & 147

Bach: Sacred Cantatas BWV, 177 - 179

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 188 & 192

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 4 - 6

Mozart : La Flûte enchantée [Extraits]

Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail, K. 384

Gershwin: Porgy & Bess

Haydn Edition Volume 5 - Masses, Stabat Mater, Seven Last Words

Handel Edition Volume 7 - Saul, Alexander's feast, Ode for St Cecilia's Day, Utrecht Te Deum, Apollo e Dafne, Giulio Cesare

Harnoncourt conducts Haydn

Harnoncourt conducts Beethoven

Harnoncourt conducts Dvorák

Harnoncourt conducts Schubert

Harnoncourt conducts Handel

Harnoncourt conducts Schumann

Harnoncourt conducts Mozart

Harnoncourt conducts JS Bach

Harnoncourt conducts Brahms

Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten (The Seasons)

Deller Vol. 4; Handel, Bach & The English Renaissance

Händel: Messiah

G.F.Telemann: Tafelmusik

Schumann: Das Paradies und die Peri

Telemann : Der Tag des Gerichts [The Day of Judgement], Ino

Haydn: Paris Symphonies

Bach, JS : St John Passion [1965]

Haydn : Mass No.11 in D minor, 'Missa in angustiis' [Nelson Mass] & Te Deum

Schumann : Symphonies 1-4 & Violin & Piano Concertos

Bach: Sacred Cantatas BWV, 180 - 182

Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro - Highlights

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 83 - 86

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 167 - 169

Bach: Weihnachtsoratorium, BWV 248

Mozart: The Early Symphonies

Bach: St John Passion, BWV 245 (Recorded 1993)

Strauss, Johann II : Zigeunerbaron

Mozart: Zaide (Das Serail) KV 344

Haydn : Symphonies 68 & 93 - 104

Haydn: Orlando Paladino

Baroque Music in Salzburg

Mozart: Early Symphonies Vol. 2

Mozart: Early Symphonies

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 109 - 111

Music at the Court of Mannheim

Bach : Easter Cantatas - plus Gustav Leonhardt

Mozart : Così fan tutte [Highlights]

Beethoven : Missa Solemnis

Mozart Collection

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3-5

Handel : Messiah

Mozart : Die Entführung aus dem Serail [Highlights]

Beethoven: Triple Concerto, Rondo in B-flat & Choral Fantasy

Henry Purcell: Fantasias & Suites

The Only Mozart Album You Will Ever Need

Bartók: Orchestral Works

Instrumental Music of 1600 (Music by Gabrieli, Morley, Holborne, Scheidt and Others)

Mozart : Idomeneo [Highlights]

Neujahrskonzert / New Year's Concert 2003

Haydn : Die Schöpfung [The Creation]

Dvorák : Symphonic Poems

Smetana: Ma Vlast

Bruckner: Symphony No. 9

Fux : Serenada, Rondeau & Sonata a 4

Brahms: Symphonies Nos 1 - 4

Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 - 5

Dvořák: Piano Concerto & The Golden Spinning Wheel

Schumann : Symphonies Nos 1 'Spring' & 2

Aus dem Repertoire Höfischer Konzerte

Haydn : Symphonies Nos 31, 59 & 73

Strauss II, J: Waltzes, Polkas & Marches

Vivaldi: Les quatre saisons

New Year's Concert 2001 - Neujahrskonzert 2001

Dvořák: Slavonic Dances, Op. 46 & 72

Schubert : Symphonies Nos 5, 8, 'Unfinished' & Overtures

Handel : Organ Concertos Op.4 & Op.7

Biber : Various Works - APEX

Bach: Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244 (Remastered)

Bach: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 3, 5 & 6 - Orchestral Suite No. 3

Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 15 & 4 Ballades, Op. 10

Bach: Christmas Oratorio

Mozart: Clarinet Concerto, Oboe Concerto & Concerto for Flute and Harp

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 32 - 34

Dvořák: Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 "From the New World"

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 121 - 124

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 138 - 140

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 94 - 96

Bach: Cantates, BWV 140 & 147

Johann Strauss in Berlin

Dvorák : Symphony No.8 & The Noon Witch

Bruckner: Symphony No. 5

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 61-78

Haydn: Die Jahreszeiten, Hob. XXI:3

Bruckner: Symphony No. 7, WAB 107

Dvorák : Symphony No.7 & The Wild Dove

Elatus - Mozart : Sacred Works

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 79 - 82

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 143 - 146

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 143 - 146

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 70 - 73

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 134 - 137

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 134 - 137

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 100 - 102

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 100 - 102

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 180 - 182

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 170 - 173

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 47 - 149

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 76 - 78

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 154 - 157

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 150 - 153

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 112 - 114

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 112 - 114

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 163 - 166

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 125 - 127

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 125 - 127

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 67 - 69a

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 158, 159, 161 & 162

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 97 - 99

Bach: Sacred Cantatas BWV, 198 & 199

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 198 & 199

Morley: The First Booke of Ayres

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 194 & 195

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 115 - 117

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 115 - 117

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 103 - 105

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 106 - 108

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 128 - 130

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 128 - 130

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 183 - 185

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 186 & 187

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 174 - 176

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 196 & 197

Haydn : Symphonies Nos 45 & 60

Handel : Jephtha

Bach, JS : Motets BWV Nos 225 - 230

Zelenka : Hipocondrie, Sonata No.2 & Overture a 7

Zelenka : Hipocondrie, Sonata No.2 & Overture

Schumann: Genoveva

Handel : Concerti grossi Op.3

Brahms: Violin Concerto, Op. 77 & Double Concerto, Op. 102

Handel : Concerti Grossi Op.3

Mozart: Il re pastore, K. 208

Mozart: Idomeneo, Re di Creta

Weber : Der Freischütz

Monteverdi : Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria

Monteverdi : Il ritorno d'Ulisse in patria [Highlights]

Mozart : La clemenza di Tito [Highlights]

Rameau : Castor et Pollux

Strauss, Johann II : Die Fledermaus [Highlights]

Mozart: The 5 Violin Concertos; Sinfonia Concertante

Beethoven: Overtures

Telemann : Concertos - APEX

Beethoven : Fidelio [Highlights]

Telemann: Concertos

Bach: Cantatas BWV 29, 61 & 140

Monteverdi : L'Orfeo

Monteverdi : L'Orfeo [Highlights]

Mozart : Requiem & Mass No.16, 'Coronation'

Mozart: Requiem, K. 626

Purcell: The Fairy Queen

Beethoven : Fidelio

Beethoven: Die Geschöpfe des Prometheus, Op. 43

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos.1 & 2; Duo for Violin and Viola KV 424

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 "Jupiter"

Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro, K. 492

Bach, JS : Sacred Cantatas Vol.7 : BWV 119-137

Bach, JS : Sacred Cantatas Vol.10 : BWV 183-188, 192, 194-199

Music at the Habsburg Court

Handel : The Ways of Zion do Mourn & Te Deum, 'Utrecht'

Bach, JS : Sacred Cantatas Vol.3 : BWV 37-52, 54-60

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 41 - 43

Bach, JS : Sacred Cantatas BWV Nos 57 - 60

Mozart : "Great Mass" in C, K.427 (417a)

Hallelujah! - Famous Handel Choruses

Mozart : Operas Vol.2 [La finta giardiniera, Lucio Silla, Il re pastore, Thamos, Der Schauspieldirektor]

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 20 - 36

Mozart : Famous Opera Arias

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 79 - 82

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 10 - 12

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 26 - 29

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 1 - 3

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 76 - 78

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 91 - 93

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 91 - 93

Vivaldi : Gloria & Pergolesi : Stabat Mater

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 61 - 63

Bach: Kantaten, BWV 87 - 90

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 87 - 90

Mozart: Violin Concerto No. 5 in A Major, K. 219; Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola in E-Flat Major, K. 364

Purcell : Dido and Aeneas

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 17 - 19

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 40 & 41 "Jupiter"

Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 38 "Prague" & 39

Monteverdi: Il combattimento, Lamento della ninfa & Madrigali

Haydn: The "London" Symphonies

Mendelssohn : A Midsummer Night's Dream & The First Walpurgis Night

Handel: Samson, HWV 57

Mozart, W.A.: Piano Sonatas "Alla turca"; "Sonata facile"; Fantasie & Sonata in C minor

Mozart: Violin Concertos Nos. 3 & 4; Duo for Violin and Viola KV 423

Beethoven: Violin Concerto, Op. 61 - Romances, Op. 40 & 50

Monteverdi: L'incoronazione di Poppea, SV 308

Mozart : La Finta Giardiniera

Handel : Le Messie [Extraits]

Mozart : Missa In C "Credo" . Litaniae K.243

Mendelssohn: Symphonies Nos. 3 "Scottish" & 4 "Italian"

Haydn : The 7 Last Words of Christ on the Cross

Brahms : Symphonies Nos 3 & 4

Mozart : Concert Arias

Suites & Sonatas

Beethoven: Symphony No. 3 "Eroica"

Beethoven: Symphony No. 5

Haydn : Symphonies 99 & 101

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 - 9

Schubert : Symphonies Nos 1 - 9 [Complete]

Bach, JS : Weihnachtsoratorium (Christmas Oratorio)

Bach Christmas Oratorio, BVW 248 - Arias & Choruses

Schubert & Mozart : Orchestral Works

Mozart: Symphony No. 27, K. 199 & Serenade No. 5, K. 204

Schubert: Masses No. 5, D. 678 "Missa Solemnis" & No. 6, D. 950 "Missa Solemnis"

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 5 - Egmont Overture

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 "Eroica"

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 4 & 7

Beethoven: Symphony No. 6 "Pastoral" & Overtures

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 7 & 8 - Overture from the Ruins of Athens

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 6 "Pastoral" & 8

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 2 & 5

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 3 "Eroica" - Overtures from Leonore III and from The Creatures of Prometheus

Beethoven: Symphony No. 9 "Choral"

Beethoven: Symphonie No. 9 "Choral"

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 2

Mozart : Exsultate Jubilate

Bruckner: Symphony No. 4 "Romantic"

Mozart: Don Giovanni, K. 527

Mozart : Serenade No.13, 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik', Divertimento No.11 & A Musical Joke

Mozart: Die Zauberflöte

Mozart: Clarinet & Bassoon Concertos

Handel : Giulio Cesare in Egitto [Highlights]

Monteverdi: Vespro della Beata Vergine, SV 206

Haydn: Die Schöpfung

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 163 - 182

Mozart : Die Entführung aus dem Serail

Mozart: Missa Solemnis "Dominicus"

Mozart : Serenades Nos 6 & 13, 'Serenata notturna' & 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik'

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart & Co.

Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos. 23 & 26 "Coronation"

Mozart: Serenade No. 9, K. 320 "Posthorn" & 2 Marches, K. 335

Mozart: Sinfonia concertante for Violin and Viola in E-Flat Major, K. 364; Violin Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Major, K. 207

Mozart: Double Piano Concerto, K. 365 - Corea & Gulda: Compositions

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 138 - 140, 143 - 159 & 161 - 162

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1 - 6, BWV 1046 - 1051

Bach: Violin Concertos

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 100 - 117

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 79 - 99

Bach: Sacred Cantatas, BWV 1 - 14 & 16 - 19

Bach: Matthäus-Passion, BWV 244

Bach: Mass in B Minor, BWV 232

Singles

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis in D Major, Op. 123/IV. Sanctus/Sanctus

Live

Beethoven: Symphonies Nos. 1 & 7 (Live at Salzburg Festival)

Concentus Musicus - Live at the Holland Festival, 1973

Schumann: Scenes from Goethe's Faust