Allegri String Quartet plays Haydn, Schumann and Shostakovich

Advantages: Pleasant melodies, good structure
Disadvantages: not terribly adventurous in harmony

...Franz Joseph Haydn's music is interesting as it is pleasant to listen to. Although he is actually Austrian, most of Haydn's music was written in Hungary for Prince Esterhazy's twice weekly dinner parties. Which meant that many of Haydn's symphonies and string quartets were written in less than four days - quite an achievement, when you consider the length of time his contemporaries spent writing similar works. Haydn wrote and conducted high standard early classical style classics for a small group of musicians who were employed by the Prince. And it is in many of Haydn's pieces that we can begin to have an insight into the life of him and his musicians. For example, the "Surprise Symphony" was written with the party gusts in mind. It begins in a plodding, slow mesmerising rhythm, which the already bloated and drowsy guests would... Read review

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Advantages: Original instruments, classical greek myth
Disadvantages: Serious and tragic

...and died in Vienna on 31 May 1809. He composed 24 operas, of which Orpheus and Eurodice was the last, although never gained notarity for this genre. Haydn is probably better known for his introduction and development of the genre of string quartets. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood Christopher Hogwood founded the Academy of Ancient music in 1973 and conducts repertoire ranging from the baroque to contemporary. Performers: Cecilia Bartoli: Euridice & Genio Uwe Heilmann: Orfeo Ildebrando D’Arcangelo: Creonte Andrea Silvestrelli: Pluto Roberto Scaltriti: Corista I Jose Fardilha: Corista II Colin Campbell: Corista III James Oxley: Corista IV Angela Kazimierczuk: Baccante Orchestra: Academy of Ancient Music Label: L'Oiseau-Lyre Released: March 1, 1997 Price: Approximately £25.99 My personal View The Academy of Ancient Music plays using... Read review

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Advantages: Exciting and moving performance, fine singers, orchestra and conductor
Disadvantages: None really

...-excited exuberance of a puppy that has treed its first cat! Background: Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) enjoyed a prolific and highly successful career composing in a wide variety of genres from opera to piano sonatas and is widely regarded to have fine-tuned the Classical Style in his string quartets and symphonies. When Haydn started composing "Die Schoepfung" (The Creation in English) in 1786 he had returned to Vienna after a highly successful time in England where his music was feted by everyone from the King downwards. He was now at the height of his powers, with a doctorate from Oxford University in his pocket and was certainly very aware of the commercial value of his music having made a substantial amount of money in England. From the copious archived documentation, we can read that Haydn felt there was nothing more he could say... Read review

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