More Haydn symphonies from Heidelberg

Haydn: Symphonies 3, 33, 108, 14

The numbering of Haydn's symphonies is very complicated, and sometimes even controversial. It might look like this selection of symphonies comes from the beginning, middle and end of the composer's career, but they're all rather early, probably from the early 1860s. Former Chief Conductor Thomas Fey had completed 24 discs in this Hännsler series of Complete Haydn Symphonies. When Johannes Klumpp took over in 2020, he continued the series, with volume 25.

I've been spending a lot of time in the world of galant schemas lately - see my recent reviews of Boccherini and Michael Haydn. As relatively minor as these four symphonies might be within Franz Joseph's oeuvre, they all strike me as being well above the industry average of the time. It's works like these that helped Haydn build his European reputation once he made his move to Esterházy Palace in 1761.

Symphony "108" (aka Symphony B), from 1762, was once thought to be a String Quartet, but wind parts were later found. It doesn't sound at all out of place in this context. The Heidelberg players are a small group: 13 string players and 11 woodwinds, brass and drums. Though they're lithe and nimble, this is completely a chamber orchestra sound, rather than chamber music.

Symphony 33 is either from 1761-2, or 1763-65. I'd be inclined to choose the later date; this is a wonderful trumpet and drums work, very festive, but not lacking in substance. Klumpp characterizes this symphony in his excellent liner notes: "Large intervals are the order of the day – wild leaps, like a young stallion, no solemn stuffiness." The Heidelberg players really nail this one!

Symphony 3 is just as out of place as the 108/B and 33: it was written in 1760-62, while Haydn's earliest symphonies were written in 1757. This is another charming piece, and played with style and grace. In the context of this album Symphony 14 is the Goldilocks Symphony; not too early, not too late. It's just right, in terms of the numbers. And it's just right musically as well. As slight as this piece is, it's full of invention, and the Heidelberger Sinfoniker really swing here. According to Klumpp, "Everything is many-faceted and variegated. The art of making a lot from a little is Haydn all over. It whirls and dances with its wits about it."

My complete Haydn Symphonies standards are Adam Fischer's set with the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra, and the Haydn 232 set still in progress, with Giovanni Antonini conducting Il Giardino Armonico and Kammerorchester Basel. Heidelberg's Haydn isn't quite in that league, but their set is definitely getting better as it reaches its final volumes.

This disc will be released on January 6, 2023.