Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble :: Haydn: Symphonies 6, 7 & 8 - Morning, Noon & Evening

THE SUN RISES (AND SETS) WITH THIS PERFORMANCE

Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 02/06/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Always favorites of mine, Haydn's triptych symphonies, "Morning, Noon and Evening," possess the least amount of musical "fat," note for note, than any of his other one hundred and one constructs. Composed at the behest of his new patron, Prince Esterhazy, around 1761, and paying special attention to the limits and merits of the musicians under his tutelage, Haydn's sixth, seventh and eighth symphonies might almost be thought of as chamber-sized concertante works, so frequently does he call on individual players to solo, duet or trio in the middle of things.



With a troupe of fifteen superb musicians at the helm, the St. Luke's Chamber Ensemble transports us back to the mid-18th Century and gives us a performance that Haydn would recognize as his own and be thoroughly pleased. Scaled back from full orchestra to ensemble, the symphonies become nothing short of revelatory, with an intimacy that is sheer, literally unadulterated delight. There is not an issue to quibble about, so excellent are the members of St. Luke's. Every note is rendered to perfection, every movement in harmonious balance. Textures become transparent, shimmering with new vibrancy and clarity. Allegros are nicely sprung, but not exaggerated; adagios receive the warmest of expressive rendering. The immediacy and charm of these performances, the overwhelming atmosphere and unique chamber quality, all supported by a delectable sound spectrum, make this disc an outstanding treat.



As an encore we are treated to a lovely Divertimento Fragment (Variations on a Minuet in E-flat) apparently composed at the same time Haydn wrote his "Morning, Noon and Evening" symphonies. So similar in tone is this "fragment," it seems very easily a "chip" from the maestro's workbench--- never used.



[Running time: 75:06]"