Discography
A Gentle Tenor
Carl Heinrich Graun
Accent 2024
"Tender and touching... a promising debut CD that leaves you wanting more."
(BR Classic)
" The Baroque Orchestra of the Thuringia Philharmonic Gotha-Eisenach, under the direction of Michael Hofstetter, chooses a chamber music approach, which it implements sensitively and with consideration for the singer. ... More, please!
An interesting discovery."
(Online Bookmarks)
Bach Motetten
Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Bach, Johann Michael Bach, Johann Christoph Bach, Johann Ludwig Bach
Christophorus 2023
"… eine Klangpracht, die ihresgleichen sucht und dabei nie die Tiefe des Ausdrucks aus den Augen verliert … Hofstetter als Alte-Musik-Spezialist scheint dem Chor nochmals enormen Auftrieb gegeben zu haben.
Ensembleklang ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Interpretation ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
(Chorzeit Juli 2023)
»Hofstetter reizt die Möglichkeiten der variierenden Besetzungen wirkungsvoll aus. Dabei setzt er sich mit betont getragenen Tempi von der Schneller-Höher-Weiter-Mode vieler Alte-Musik-Ensembles ab – mit durchaus stimmigem Ergebnis.«
(Fono Forum April 2023)
Haydn Cello Concertos
Joseph Haydn
OehmsClassics 2020
"Historical and vibrant performance practice. The Recreation – Großes Orchester Graz under Michael Hofstetter plays with exceptional passion, color, and energy, allowing Natalie Clein's equally virtuosic and soulful playing to shine. A pure pleasure!"
(Online Bookmarks)
"Colorful and rich in detail... Michael Hofstetter focuses on the effect of rich in detail and color, dynamically very variable, and enriched with spontaneous accentuations, elegant and dance-like. Cellist Natalie Clein, playing on gut strings, fully immerses herself in Hofstetter's music and plays gracefully and exuberantly.
(pizzicato.lu)
Care Pupille
Händel • Gluck
Orfeo 2020
überwältigende Offenbarung von Schönheit
"Michael Hofstetter und das Händelfestspielorchester Halle liefern zu dieser außergewöhnlichen Stimme einen üppig farbigen orchestralen Rahmen. Dieses engagierte Musizieren sowie der Umstand, dass die Produktion auch drei Ersteinspielungen enthält, darunter die titelgebende Arie Care pupille von Gluck, macht diese CD von Orfeo umso wertvoller."
"Michael Hofstetter and the Händelfestspielorchester Halle provide a richly coloured orchestral accompaniment for this extraordinary voice. This dedicated music-making and the fact that the production also includes three first recordings, including Gluck’s eponymous aria Care pupille, makes this CD by Orfeo all the more valuable."
(Pizzicato)
Oberon oder Der Schwur des Elfenkönigs
Carl Maria von Weber
Oehms Classics 2019
Hofstetters idealer Oberon aus Giessen
"Neben einer Handvoll guter Aufnahmen galt Rafael Kubeliks Einspielung von Webers Oper Oberon als die Referenz. Weder Keilberth, noch Gardiner oder Conlon gelang es, dieses heikle Werk in die richtige Balance zu bringen. … Wie wundervoll diese… Oper doch klingen kann, das wird uns jetzt erst mit dieser Neueinspielung aus Giessen offenbart. … Dazu dirigiert Hofstetter gekonnt klar und transparent und verzichtet auf schweren Pathos. Anstelle einer hochdramatischen Rezia oder eines heldentenoralen Hüon setzt Hofstetter auf junge, leichte und lyrische Stimmen. Und die passen wiederum hervorragend zu diesem schwebenden, naturhaften Klang des exzellent aufspielenden Philharmonischen Orchester Giessen. … Die Aufnahmetechnik ist mustergültig und bietet pures Hörvergnügen. Kein Zweifel, diese Produktion ist eine ideale Oberon-Aufnahme."
(Pizzicato)
"auf Augenhöhe solcher Oberon-Koryphäen wie Kubelik und Gardiner,"
(rbb Kultur)
Saint-Saëns - Lalo - Martin
Works for cello and orchestra
Oehms Classics 2016
"Wen-Sinn Yang and Michael Hofstetter are both fans of a straightforward, unperfumed style. Which is why we hear pleasantly purified Romantic music here..."
★ ★ ★ ★
(FonoForum 06/2016)
Ein Herbstmanöver
Emmerich Kálmán
Oehms Classics 2019
"Operetta is like goulash: there's no definitive Recipe, but you know when it tastes right. This spirited new recording of Kálmán's 1908 ‘military operetta' makes a few tweaks to the original, but it's lively, fresh, and has that authentic Viennese-Hungarian paprika tang. Huge fun, done with huge style: it's rarely been off my CD player
(Gramophone Critic's Choice 2019)
"Das Philharmonische Orchester Giessen spielt engagiert und fernab aller
Operettenschlamperei unter der umsichtigen und dynamischen Leitungen von Michael Hofstetter."
★ ★ ★ ★
(Pizzicato)
"Als Sachwalter dieser herrlichen Eigenschaften fungiert Michael Hofstetter, der die fast vergessene Operette zu neuem, beschwingtem Leben erweckt."
(BR Klassik)
Handel | Concerti Grossi Opus 6
George Frideric Handel
Orfeo 2015
"A thrilling recording full of inner emotion... with depth, elegance, and captivating verve."
(Bavarian Broadcasting 14.08.2015)
"Handel's Concerti Grossi op. 6 ... confirms Hofstetter's familiarity with Baroque music in particular and shows how he has advanced "his" chamber orchestra."
(FonoForum 10/2015)
Mozart Castrato Arias
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Oehms Classics 2015
"Hofstetter conducts the orchestra so vividly and pointedly that it is a real joy to listen to him."
(The Opera Glass 03/2015)
"with carefully refined articulation, effectively exploited dynamic contrasts, harsh attacks and sensitive lyricism"
(Small Newspaper Graz)
"impeccably by Hofstetter and his players"
(Opera Magazine August 2015)
"This CD gives pure happiness"
(New Press)
Denis Patkovic: Bach Keyboard Concertos
Johann Sebastian Bach
DP Classics 2013
"unique and unprecedented sound experience"
(Accordion Magazine)
"Expressive density and inner tension and a…vital and concise togetherness" (BR klassik)
Oberto
Giuseppe Verdi
Oehms Classics 2013
"Slim and toned, elegant and with plenty of swing"
(Süddeutsche Zeitung)
"Stylish concert performance" (Financial Times) ★★★★☆
"a lot of sound awareness, substance, illumination" (Opernwelt 02/2014)
Hallelujah. Famous Choruses from Messiah
George Frideric Handel
Oehms Classics 2013
"An absolutely exquisite performance, and a must-have for any collection - brava!"
(www.musicweb-international.com – Recording of the Month)
Didone abbandonata
Johann Adolph Hasse
Naxos 2013
powerful yet nuanced music-making" (Das Opernglas 3/2013)
"Conductor Michael Hofstetter ensures that the dramatic tension never slackens." (The Guardian 02/2013)
The Raven Nevermore
Moritz Eggert
audite 2012
"varied and entertaining" (Fono Forum 12/2012)
Hate reloaded
Johann Adolph Hasse
Oehms Classics 2012
"A fresh voice, a successful recording that thoroughly dusts off 'il caro sassone'." (German Record Critics' Award 2/2012)
"The content and presentation of this CD speak convincingly for themselves." (Opernwelt 03/2012
Stabat Mater – Laudate Pueri
Giovanni Battista Pergolesi
OehmsClassics 2012
"The recording is a benchmark for all future recordings" (Musica Sacra)
"with astonishing consistency and incredible vocal brilliance … exemplary in the sense of baroque rhetoric"
Magnificat
G. Gabrieli, M. Praetorius, H. Schütz
GLOR Classics 2012
"An exemplary production... admirable, everything." (Musica Sacra)
The Trooper
Giuseppe Verdi
Oehms Classics 2011
"When Michael Hofstetter presents a recording on period instruments, one can be sure of an unusual interpretation."
(The Opera Glass 10/2011)
"a recording that stands out from the usual routine recordings"
(The New Merker)
Stefanie Irányi: Lamentations
JA Hasse, J. Haydn, GF Handel
OehmsClassics 2010
"finely differentiated... the musical partnership between the two artists is filled with palpable tension and unbridled harmony." (www.klassik.com)
"the experience of this album is absolutely engaging" (www.allmusic.com)
"with a warm, expressive voice … truly heartbreaking" (Das Opernglas 1/2013)
Love and jealousy
ETA Hoffmann
cpo 2010
"Beautifully crafted ensembles, three exciting finales, and a colorfully commenting orchestra" (klassik-heute.com)
"a sparklingly musical recording" (Das Opernglas 11/2010)
"Under the expert hands of Michael Hofstetter, the score comes to colorful life" (Fono Forum) ★★★★☆
Sanctus Peter and Sancta Mary Magdalene
Johann Adolph Hasse
OehmsClassics 2010
"greatly cast" (Fono Forum 12/2010)
Symphony No. 2 • Fairy Tale • Andersen Overture
August Enna
cpo 2010
"A wealth of different moods and colors... an espressivo tone that never seems casual."
(Fono Forum)
"a great deal of romantic temperament, a pronounced sense of plastic moods and a high degree of orchestral imagination"
(klassik-heute.com)
Magalie Mosnier: Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Sony 2010
"Beautiful to listen to, played with confidence and style."
(NDR Culture)
The Complete String Symphonies
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Orfeo 2009
"a reading that is both transparent and detailed"
Early Concertos For Violin and Piano
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy
Orfeo 2009
"remarkable and highly recommended publication"
Alceste
Anton Schweitzer
Berlin Classics 2008
CD/DVD
"with a soft tone and colorful sound, which Michael Hofstetter very subtly models in his smooth and detailed interpretation."
(Pfälzer Tagblatt, July 18, 2008)
Ezio
Christoph Willibald Gluck
OehmsClassics 2008
"Baroque delicacy"
(Bietigheim Newspaper)
"Simple explosive power… one rarely hears such a harmoniously sounding seria ensemble as here"
(New Westphalian)
Hansel and Gretel
Engelbert Humperdinck
arte edition 2007
DVD
Cencic: Rossini Opera Arias & Overtures
Gioachino Rossini
Virgin Classics 2007
""Michael Hofstetter leads l'Orchestre de Chambre de Genève in appropriately vivacious […] performances […] present and well balanced”
(allmusic.com)
L'Orphée du meilleur interpreter 2008 of the Académie Du Disque Lyrique
Les Danaïdes
Antonio Salieri
Oehms Classics 2007
"penetrating interpretation ... committed conducting" (Crescendo)
"an outstanding recording that fully showcases the quality of the work" (Bayern 4 Klassik)
La Finta Simple
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Deutsche Grammophon 2006
DVD
"vifs, intelligents, fins"
(Le Monde)
"The music is equal to the party, with a Camerata Salzburg fruitée, boisée, qui chante et virevolte sous the baguette enjouée de Hofstetter"
(Liberation)
Lo Sposo Deluso – L'Oca Del Cairo
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Deutsche Grammophon 2006
DVD
"elegant and springy" (Tages-Anzeiger, August 5, 2006)
The Hours and Curiosities
Domenico Cimarosa
OehmsClassics 2006
"Simple in its melodic form, exciting and skillfully roughened in its phrasing" (Opernwelt 1/2007)
"with compelling musical and dramatic fury" (Fono Forum)
"Listen-worthy, multifaceted music… virtuosically brought to new life" (Kleine Zeitung Graz)
Symphonies 1&2, Overture
Joseph Eybler
cpo 2004
"This could be one of my favorite records of the year."
(American Record Guide 6/2006)