MOZART Don Giovanni arranged for string quartet (performed on period instruments) Quatuor Franz Joseph sur instruments d'époque | on period instruments OLIVIER BRAULT violon | violin   JACQUES-ANDRÉ HOULE violon | violin HÉLÈNE PLOUFFE alto | viola   MARCEL SAINT-CYR violoncelle | cello ACD2 2559 [ 2CD Set ] • Composed from March to October 1787, Mozart's opera Don Giovanni had its premiere in Prague on October 20 and was revised for the Viennese premiere on May 7 of the following year.   As was the case with many hit operas, Don Giovanni was arranged many times for various instrumental combinations, with and without voice. • The Franz Joseph String Quartet uses the arrangement published by Simrock c.1798.   The copy comes from the Bibliothèèque nationale de France in Paris, and comprises two bound volumes, one per act, each containing the four handsomely engraved string books.   The opera is nearly complete. • This transcription of Don Giovanni for string quartet by an anonymous arranger perfectly conveys the symbiosis of voice and instrument - a hallmark of Mozart's genius.   Throughout the opera, the deft arranger recreates the balance between the purely musical aspects of the work, without detracting from its theatrical qualities.   In short, drama and buffoonery are both preserved. • The Franz Joseph String Quartet was created in 2002 by four enthusiastic and leading early-music string players from Montreal.   Performing on period instruments, they explore the quartet repertoire of the Enlightenment while nourishing an interest in parallel repertoires.   The Quartet performed twice at the Palace of Versailles, under the auspices of the Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles: first during the 2005 Automne Musical and again in 2007 for the Centre's 20th anniversary.   In addition to frequent appearances at various Canadian music festivals, the Quartet launched its own concert series in Montreal in 2008. CD 1   1.Ouvertura       ATTO PRIMO   2. Notte e giorno faticar   3. Ma qual mai s'offre, o Dei | Fuggi, crudele, fuggi!   4. Ah! Chi mi dice mai   5. Madamina, il catalogo è questo   6. Giovinette, che fate all'amore   7. Ho capito, signor si   8. Là ci darem la mano   9. Ah, fuggi il traditor 10. Non ti fidar, o misera 11. Or sai chi l'onore 12. Dalla sua pace 13. Fin ch'han dal vino 14. Batti, batti, o bel Masetto 15. Finale I CD 2       ATTO SECONDO   1. Eh via, buffone, non mi seccar   2. Ah! Taci, ingiusto core   3. Deh, vieni alla finestra   4. Metà di voi qua vadano   5. Vedrai, carino   6. Sola, sola, in buio loco   7. Ah, pietà, signori miei   8. Il mio tesoro intanto   9. Mi tradi quell'alma ingrata 10. Di rider finirai pria dell'aurora       Ribaldo! Audace! Lascia a' morti la pace 11. O statua gentilissima 12. Non mi dir, bell'idol mio 13. Finale II ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879