‘Composes par Mr Hayden’
THE FITZWILLIAM STRING QUARTET plays one very early and two late quartets by Franz Joseph Haydn:
The Fitzwilliam String Quartet is one of Britain’s foremost chamber ensembles with a highly celebrated concert and recording history. This CD includes two late and great Haydn quartets, and a very early one, recorded at a live performance at Royal Holloway (University of London) in 2001, and captures the brilliance, joy and inspiration of these works perfectly.
Track Listing
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Josef Haydn:
- Divertimento (Cassatio) in C major, Hob. III:6 - I. Presto assai (2:13)
- Divertimento (Cassatio) in C major, Hob. III:6 - II. Minuet I (3:58)
- Divertimento (Cassatio) in C major, Hob. III:6 - III. Adagio (4:39)
- Divertimento (Cassatio) in C major, Hob. III:6 - IV. Minuet II (3:58)
- Divertimento (Cassatio) in C major, Hob. III:6 - V. Finale: Allegro (2:19)
- String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:70 - I. Adagio-Allegro (8:58)
- String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:70 - II. Adagio (4:56)
- String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:70 - III. Menuet: Allegro (2:30)
- String Quartet in D major, Hob.III:70 - IV. Finale: Allegretto-Allegro (3:58)
- String Quartet in F major, Hob.III:82 - I. Allegro moderato (7:24)
- String Quartet in F major, Hob.III:82 - II. Menuet: Presto (4:41)
- String Quartet in F major, Hob.III:82 - III. Andante (7:09)
- String Quartet in F major, Hob.III:82 - IV. Finale: Vivace assai (6:01)
Reviews
“Splendid concert… although the Fitzwilliam is a quartet that uses period instruments, it phrases lyrically rather than choppily, it has wit and humor, joie de vivre, and a sparkle missing from a great many of its historically informed brethren…I certainly recommend this CD as an example of how one can play period instruments and still sound involved and charming.
” —Lynn Rene Bayley
“Memorable live performances eminently worthy of issue… marked by a balance and maturity of conception. Haydn’s sublime … mastery is complemented by playing of rare insight.
” —Brian Robins
“The Fitzwilliam Quartet give faithful accounts of these Haydn quartets, full of character and expression, enhanced by the zip of spontaneity and tang of period instrument tone and style. The recording has great immediacy yet is suitably intimate.
” —Michael Greenhalgh
