Franz Joseph Haydn Album: «Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 64, Nos. 1-3»

- Customers rating: (5.0 of 5)
- Title:Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 64, Nos. 1-3
- Release date:2001-10-23
- Type:Audio CD
- Label:Asv Living Era
- UPC:743625108323
- 1First Movement: Allegro Moderato
- 2Second Movement: Menuetto - Allegretto Ma Non Troppo
- 3Third Movement: Allegretto Scherzando
- 4Fourth Movement: Finale - Presto
- 5First Movement: Allegro Spirituoso
- 6Second Movement: Adagio Ma Non Troppo
- 7Third Movement: Menuetto - Allegretto
- 8Fourth Movement: Finale - Presto
- 9First Movement: Vivace Assai
- 10Second Movement: Adagio
- 11Third Movement: Menuetto - Allegretto
- 12Fourth Movement: Finale - Allegro Con Spirito
and Haydn was nearly at his in the opus 64 Quartets. His last 2.5 quartets-opus 77/1 and 2 and the unfinished opus 103 are late and wonderful works, but the six opus 64 are truly glorious-inventive, extremely lyrical and quite uplifting in their happiness. They remind me most of Haydn's opus 33 Quartets, only more complex and inventive . Compare the opus
33 "Bird Quartet" with opus 64/5 "The Lark'. "Bird" may be Haydn's happiest quartet, but it is not quite as accomplished as " the Lark" (and opus 76/4 "The Sunrise," another quartet
depicting triumphant ascent. This sextet is characterized by consistent inspiratiom and sunniness, though 64/2 is in B Minor and adumbrates the D Minor Quinten quartet opus 76/2. The opus 76 set is Haydn's greatest, with two sets of three quartets each followig the opus 64s: opus 71 and opus 74. As usual the Lindasys' Haydn is beyond excellences. They observe
more repeats than the Amadeus Quartet in their very fine readings, a practice which I consider an asset because one can savor the music a little longer.
There is currently only one place to download this fine album that I know of, and that is on the HDtracks website. ASV has apparently worked out a deal with this site, and as a result, they have a great deal of Lindsay releases.
These are the first three quartets of Haydn's delightful Op. 64. The Lindsays provides energetic interpretation in a recording with excellent sound.


