HENRI-JOSEPH RIGEL (1741-1799): Symphonies No. 4 in C Minor, Op. 12/4, No. 7 in D, No. 8 in G Minor, No. 10 in D Minor, Op. 21/2, and No. 14 in F, Op. 21/6.

Description: Although ignored by record labels up to now, Rigel is probably France's strongest symphonist of the Classical period. His three-movement works are full of brio and nervous energy, synthesizing the Sturm und Drang of Haydn and Mozart (the popular coups d'archet good-naturedly parodied by Mozart in his Paris symphony) with the pre-Beethoven style of Méhul. He published 14 symphonies and these five cover the chronological spectrum: op. 12 (1774) and op. 21 (1786) with the two stand-alones from 1780 and 1783. Concerto Köln.