A cloud and a silver lining
Donald Macleod explains how a lucky break saved Haydn from unemployment, with music from his opera Armida and his glorious Cello Sonata in C.
Donald Macleod explains how a lucky break saves Haydn from unemployment, with music from the opera Armida and his glorious Cello Sonata in C.
The streets must have seemed like they were paved with gold when Haydn visited London in 1791. He was feted and applauded everywhere he went as one of Europeβs leading composers. He hobnobbed with royalty, the Prince of Wales commissioned a portrait of him from leading society portraitist John Hoppner. Itβs still regarded as one of the best images we have today.
Haydn could hardly have imagined all this as a boy. His really is a rags to riches story. Born in 1732 in humble circumstances, Haydn's musical talent won him a position as a choir boy in Vienna's St. Stephen's Cathedral. However, he was forced to leave after his voice broke and, by the age of 17, he was on the streets, with only βthree miserable shirts and a worn-out coatβ to his name. Happily his life did then take an upward turn. Haydn was employed by the EsterhΓ zys, one of the most powerful and influential families in the Hapsburg monarchy for an astonishing 48 years.
But this week Donald Macleod puts the public face of this internationally celebrated figure to one side. Heβs going to be looking at Haydn through a narrower lens, drawing a picture of the composer through the relationships he enjoyed with some of his closest family and friends.
Prince Nikolaus EsterhΓ zy became Haydnβs longest employer. The course of their association shows Haydn displaying a genuine talent for management and diplomacy.
Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, Hob.XVI:1
I. Allegro
Marc-AndrΓ© Hamelin, piano
Symphony No. 6 in D major βLe Matin'
I. Adagio β Allegro
Il Giardino Armonico
Giovanni Antonini, director
Sonata No 46 in A flat major Hob XVI/46 II (sometimes numbered as 31)
III: Finale Presto
Marc-AndrΓ© Hamelin, piano
LβinfedeltΓ delusa
Act I Scene 1: Introduction: Bella sera (Filippo, Vespina, Nencio, Nanni, Sandrina)
Edith Mathis, soprano, Vespina
Barbara Hendricks, soprano, Sandrina
Aldo Baldin, tenor, Filippo
Claes-HΓ₯kan AhnsjΓΆ, tenor, Nencio
Michael Devlin, bass, Nanni
Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
Antal DorΓ‘ti, conductor
Cello concerto in C Hob. VIIb:1 (1761-65)
III: Allegro molto
The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen
Steven Isserlis, director, cello
The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross
Sonata II. FΓΌrwahr, ich sag' es dir. Grave e cantabile
Quarteto Casals
Armida (Act 1)
Parti Rinaldo - Se pietade avete
Cecilia Bartoli, mezzo soprano, Armida
Concentus Musicus Wien
Nikolaus Harnoncourt, director
Producer: Johannah Smith for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Audio
On radio
Music Played
-
Joseph Haydn
Piano Sonata No 10 in C major, Hob.XVI:1 (1st mvt, Allegro)
Performer: Marc-AndrΓ© Hamelin.- Hyperion CDA67882.
- Hyperion.
- 5.
-
Joseph Haydn
Symphony No 6 in D major 'Le Matin' (1st mvt, Adagio-Allegro)
Orchestra: Il Giardino Armonico. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.- ALPHA : 6-86.
- Alpha.
- 1.
-
Joseph Haydn
Sonata No 46 in A flat major Hob XVI/46 II (3rd mvt, Finale)
Performer: Marc-AndrΓ© Hamelin.- HYPERION : CDA67554.
- HYPERION.
- 8.
-
Joseph Haydn
L' Infedelta delusa, Act 1, Scene 1: Introduction: Bella sera
Singer: Barbara Hendricks. Singer: Michael Devlin. Singer: Edith Mathis. Singer: Claes-Hakon Ahnsjo. Singer: Aldo Baldin. Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Antal DorΓ‘ti.- PHILIPS: 4324132.
- PHILIPS.
- 2.
-
Joseph Haydn
Cello concerto in C Hob. VIIb:1 (3rd mvt)
Performer: Steven Isserlis. Orchestra: The Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.- HYPERION : CDA68162.
- HYPERION.
- 3.
-
Joseph Haydn
The Seven Last Words of Christ on the Cross (Sonata II)
Ensemble: Quarteto Casals.- Harmonia Mundi HMC902162.
- Harmonia Mundi.
- 3.
-
Joseph Haydn
Armida, Act 1 Sc.3; Parti, Renaldo
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Ensemble: Concentus Musicus Wien. Director: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.- Teldec : 8573811082.
- Teldec.
- 6.
Broadcasts
- Tue 25 Apr 2023 12:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
- Tue 14 Jan 2025 16:00ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 3
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