162. Joseph Haydn - String Quartets Op. 64 (1790)

Recording

Title: String Quartets Op. 64
Performers: The Lindsays
Year: 1999
Length: 2 hours (2 seperate CDs, each with three quartets)

Review

Mozart is becoming progressively darker and more emotive in his compositions, such is not the case with Haydn. Haydn is retaining his lighter touch, his humorous point of view on music, while still composing some great music.

This set of six quartets is a delight. My particular highlight goes to the second quartet, which even if it is less well known than the fifth is a great piece, using what sound like Hungarian folk music influences to great result.

So it is a welcome break from the progressively doomier and gloomier Mozart, and even if the spark of genius is not as bright in Haydn, it is always a joy to listen to one of his compositions.

Final Grade

8/10

Trivia

Listing of the Quartets from Wikipedia:

* Quartet No. 48 in C Major, Op. 64, No. 1, FHE No. 31, Hoboken No. III:65
* Quartet No. 49 in B Minor, Op. 64, No. 2, FHE No. 32, Hoboken No. III:68
* Quartet No. 50 in B♭ Major, Op. 64, No. 3, FHE No. 33, Hoboken No. III:67
* Quartet No. 51 in G Major, Op. 64, No. 4, FHE No. 34, Hoboken No. III:66
* Quartet No. 52 in E♭ Major, Op. 64, No. 6, FHE No. 36, Hoboken No. III:64
* Quartet No. 53 in D Major ("The Lark"), Op. 64, No. 5, FHE No. 35, Hoboken No. III:63


The Lark, quartet number 5, finale by the Lindsays: