Think of England

Haydn: Symphonies 76, 77 & 78; J. C. Bach: Symphony in G minor

I've been following Giovanni Antonini's Haydn 2032 series for a long time; this is the fifth disc I've reviewed, out of the twenty that have been released so far. I love everything about this series: Antonini's superb scholarship, his use of two crackerjack ensembles - Il Giardino Armonico and the larger Kammerorchester Basel, the introduction of works by other composers to provide context, the illuminating documentation, and, finally, the inclusion of pictures by a different Magnum photographer for each release.

Haydn's home in the second part of his career, after he left Esterhazy, was London. The theme of this disc is "For English Gentlemen", and it's a perfect vehicle for the photography of the late, great photographer Martin Parr, who died last December. Included is this wonderful shot from Ascot, from Parr's series Think of England, 1999. One of my favourites!

While the three Haydn symphonies included here - no. 76 in E♭ major, no. 77 in B♭ major and no. 78 in C minor, all from 1782 - come before the composer's move to England, they were written for the English. Haydn was aware of English taste through his familiarity with the works of composers of London residents like Johann Christian Bach. He says in a letter that he wrote the symphonies "for the English gentlemen, ... easy and not too concertante". But these are not pot-boilers, and nor are they without interest for the erudite connoisseur. Antonini and his Basel musicians judge this balance between light and serious fare perfectly; these are sparkling, highly enjoyable performances. 

Johann Christian Bach, Johann Sebastian's youngest son, spent so much time in London that he was known as "the English Bach". His G minor Symphony, op. 6 no. 6, dates from 1769, and while one can see similarities with the three later symphonies, especially #78 in C minor, this is generally more tempestuous and theatrical than the more placid, more assured Haydn works.

So another triumph on the road to Joseph Haydn's 300th birthday: March 31, 2032!