Composer: Michaël Haydn
Performer: Constanze Quartett
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: CPO
Catalogue: 555409-2
Release: 2024
Size: 1.21 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
String Quartet in B-Flat Major, P. 124
01. I. Andante commodo
02. II. Menuetto
03. III. Rondo. Allegro
String Quartet in E-Flat Major, P. 118
04. I. Andante
05. II. Menuetto
06. III. Allegretto
String Quartet in A Major, P. 122
07. I. Andante
08. II. Menuetto alla Francese
09. III. Rondo
String Quartet in G Minor, P. 120
10. I. Andante un poco allegro
11. II. Andante grazioso
12. III. Menuetto variazioni. Un poco allegro
String Quartet in F Major, P. 119
13. I. Allegro moderato
14. II. Menuetto
15. III. Adagio
16. IV. Finale. Allegro
String Quartet in C Major, P. 116
17. I. Andante un poco allegro
18. II. Menuetto un poco allegro
19. III. Finale. Allegro
Michael Haydn did not achieve the same exorbitant quantity of instrumental music as his older brother, since he had to compose a large amount of sacred music because of his position; but the surviving symphonies and chamber music in particular are not lacking in novel and “original” character traits. This becomes clear, for example, in the six string quartets recorded here, which he wrote sometime in the 1770s or 1780s. Here, personable elegance and subtle humour are combined with a quiet touch of tragic drama to create a very unique candour that reveals a world view that is as moving as it is entertaining, somewhere between the masterpieces of his brother Joseph and Amadeus, who was around twenty years younger.
