Haydn not only wrote a large number of solo songs, he also produced a significant number of small-scale cantatas. These remarkable works for solo voice and keyboard have the musical depth of dramatic concert settings in miniature. Written in either 1789 or 1790, Arianna a Naxos is especially powerful and almost symphonic in scope. In fact, Haydn intended to orchestrate the work, but for some reason, never took up the task. Mezzo Stephanie d Oustrac and fortepianist Aline Zylberajch wield a rich palette of emotions and timbre, creating a recording that illuminates Haydn s foreshadowing of romantic composers, Schubert in particular.