Experience the essence of eighteenth-century France in this chamber music program of Devienne, Rameau, Jadin, Mozart and Haydn. SBS French welcomes Skye Mc Intosh, the Ensemble artistic director and principal violin.
Mozart’s Flute Quartet in A major opens this French feast of chamber music. Although not written in France, the last movement of this charismatic work contains a French style Rondo highlighting Mozart’s comical reputation with the tempo indication: “not too fast, then not too slow. So-so, with great elegance and expression”.
Lesser-known French composer Hyacinthe Jadin dedicated his first set of three string quartets to Haydn. The Ensemble presents his beautiful String Quartet Op. 3 No. 1. Haydn’s influence is apparent in this delightful and playful work. Following this, the Devienne Flute Quartet Op. 16 No. 3 darkens the tone with its brooding opening movement in B minor.
The turbulent mood continues with Haydn’s Symphony No. 87 in a string quartet arrangement believed to have been penned by Haydn himself. The symphony was part of his commission in the 1780s for the Parisian-based group Concerts de la Loge Olympique.
The program closes with a fittingly French work, Rameau’s Cinquième Concert from Pièces de clavecin en concerts, paying homage to earlier composers Forqueray and Marais.
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Source: Australian Haydn Ensemble website
