JOSEPH HAYDN (1732–1809)

String Quartets Op. 20

CD1

String Quartet in E flat major Op 20 No 1

1 Allegro moderato

2 Menuetto Allegretto

3 Affettuoso e sostenuto

4 Presto

String Quartet in C major Op 20 No 2

5 Moderato

6 Capriccio Adagio

7 Menuetto Allegretto

8 Fuga a 4 soggetti Allegro

String Quartet in G minor Op 20 No 3

9 Allegro con spirito

10 Menuetto Allegretto

11 Poco adagio

12 Allegro molto

CD2

String Quartet in D major Op 20 No 4

1 Allegro di molto

2 Un poco adagio affettuoso

3 Menuetto Allegretto alla zingarese

4 Presto scherzando

String Quartet in F minor Op 20 No 5

5 Allegro moderato

6 Menuetto

7 Adagio

8 Fuga a 2 soggetti

String Quartet in A major Op 20 No 6

9 Allegro di molto e scherzando

10 Adagio cantabile

11 Menuetto Allegretto

12 Fuga a 3 soggetto Allegro

The London Haydn Quartet:

Catherine Manson violin

Michael Gurevich violin

James Boyd viola

Richard Lester cello

Haydn’s remarkable Opus 20 quartets are rightfully regarded as landmarks in the history of the string quartet.

Throughout the six contrasting quartets the composer employs compositional techniques that were to shape and define the genre.

We witness a deviation in style from the lightness and wit of his previous quartets to a mood of emotional intensity and darker musical imagery. The six Opus 20 works are all individually exquisite masterpieces and demonstrate a composer at the height of creative maturity. They display an astonishing consistency of excellence and a huge variety of form and style, contrasting dynamics and relentless energy. Increasingly polyphonic textures are infused with a sense of drama, and the cello is often freed from its basso continuo roots to a position of prominence.

The London Haydn Quartet is the ideal advocate for these works and gives elegant, radiant and exhilaratingly assured performances.

Hyperion Records 2cds CDA67877