Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 77, 78 and 79 [CD]

Nos. 76 (not on this disc), 77, and 78, were composed in the early 1780s in anticipation of a trip to London, so these could be considered as the first "London Symphonies." The plans fell through, however, and only years later did Haydn get to London. The occasion for no. 79 is not known.

No. 78 is in a somewhat more serious vein, serious for Haydn, anyway. The first movement is heavier, more in the Sturm und Drang mode. The second movement is also on the serious side, but the third movement is a graceful menuetto. The final movement is fast, as we have come to expect.

No. 79 starts off more graciously, lively in a more relaxed way. After the pleasing slow movement, the third movement is yet another menuetto, moving with royal grandeur. The final movement is again cheerful and inventive.

Haydn's power of invention was seemingly inexhaustible. Although these symphonies are formally very similar, each movement is completely different. Although the titles are not literally true, he is not called the "father" of both the symphony and the string quartet for nothing.

The Northern Chamber Orchestra, based in Manchester, is an extremely accoplished group. They have recorded a number of other Haydn symphonies for Naxos with equal success. Here, it is hard to imagine how their performances could be better. Their playing is alert, lively and stylish, exactly suited to the different moods of the music.

The recording, too, is quite lovely, with a natural balance and a spacious stereo image. For the past several years, Naxos has pretty consistently produced fine recordings. This one, done in a BBC venue, is one of the best.

All in all, a delightful disc from beginning to end.

To say the least, these Szell and Bernstein performances were stunning, and I was definitely on my way to a love affair with Haydn. But as I searched out more single disc Haydn titles, I found it very difficult to fill in the gaps in my collection between Symphonies 80 and 104. I discovered a few quality recordings here and there that fit the bill -- a Furtwangler performance of Symphony No. 88 on DG Originals and a Klemperer recording of Symphony No. 98 on EMI -- but for the most part I came away empty-handed.

At this point, a friend suggested the Naxos label. I was naive then and I told my friend I wasn't interested in hearing Alfred Rumplestiltskin and the East Cowtown Nebraska orchestra perform the great works. He told me not to be such a snob, and assured me that the performances and recording quality were consistently excellent, and that symphonies like the Cologne and Northern Chamber Orchestras, while not the Berlin Philharmonic, were certainly first class groups.

Well, now I am the proud owner of several Haydn Naxos Symphony CDs, including Volumes 12, 13, 16, 18, 20 (this title), and 21. All the performances are brilliant, and often indistinguishable from the Szell and Bernstein accounts, well at least to my intermediate-level listening ear. At this rate, I may continue backwards with Haydn's Symphonies on Naxos until I reach el numero uno. And another nice thing is that with Naxos that might even be an affordable undertaking.

The three symphonies on this CD, No. 77, 78, and 79, were composed between 1782 and 1784, with the first two written in anticipation of a projected trip to London which, at the time, did not materialize. The symphonies are each scored for strings, oboe, bassoon, and French horn. These three works, which resemble each other in many ways, also show Haydn's inventiveness and originality, with each work having its own character.

Symphony No. 77 in B-flat major is a short work in a galant mode. The work is on the whole pastel-colored with little in the way of bravura or solo passages. But is is full of musical creativity. The opening movement, vivace, features a lively initial theme and a short, flowing second subject. Near the end of the movement, Haydn varies his material significantly, leading up to an outstanding suspended passage and a vigourous close. The second movement, andante sostenuto, is a quiet, slightly melancholy theme that lies in the mddle strings with passages for winds as the movement progresses. The minuet is short and lively with an angular theme in the strings backed by the winds. The finale, marked allegro spituoso, is based on a deligthful, lively theme that reminds me of folksong -- or perhaps a country dance.

Almost all works by classical composers in the minor key are worthy of note, and Haydn's symphony no. 78 in C minor is no exception. The first movement of this work, vivace, is full of tumult and passion, based on its minor theme. It reminds me of the Mozart C minor piano concerto, K. 491. The structure of this movement is unusual in that each section of the sonata form, the exposition, development, and recapitulation, is repeated. The second movement, adagio, is in marked contrast to the opening movement with a serene, flowing theme. The minuet is stately, and in the major key. The trio contrasts with the minuet in that the theme is short and whimsical. The finale, presto, opens in an angular, somber C minor but doesn't stay there. After contrasting passages between the major and minor keys, it concludes in a joyous, triumphant C major.

The final work on this CD, the symphony No. 79 in F major is a quietly appealing work again in a galant style. The opening movement features contrasting loud and soft passages, a flowing opening theme, and bassoons in the backround. The second movement, marked adagio cantabilie-Un poco allegro is the heart of this work. The opening secion is a quiet slow theme, repeated several times with different combinations of instruments. Near the end of the movement, the tempo suddenly changes and the movement closes with a skipping, dancing quick theme in the strings. It is an outstanding movement, with unity in its apparent diversity. The minuet has a theme stated in the strings with wind echo. The trio is complimentary, rather than contrasting. The finale, vivace, is a quickly-paced rondo with a theme that gets freer and more unbuttoned as the movement draws to its close.

This CD will appeal to lovers of early classical music who want to explore Haydn's relatively little-known symphonies in all their appeal and variety. The budget price is an added attraction.