Classical Music - September 2017

Bach, J.S. - Falsche Welt, dir trau ich nicht (False world, I do not trust you)
Bach, J.S. - Ich habe genug (I have enough) (version for bass)
Barber - Symphony No.1
Barber - Music for a scene from Shelley
Beethoven

• Coriolan Overture
• Scene from "Vestas Feuer"
• Original introduction to Act 2 of "Leonore"
• Violin Sonata No.9

Brahms - Serenade No.1
Bridge

• Norse Legend (orchestral version)
• 2 Songs of Robert Bridges
• Adoration
• 3 Idylls for string quartet

Bruun - Forårsang (Spring Song)
Dvorak

• Symphony No.4
• String Quartet No.6
• Andante appassionato for string quartet

Faure - Songs, opp.72, 76, 83 and 85
Haydn - Symphonies 43, 44, 45, 48 and 49
Medtner - Skazki, opp.26, 34 and 35
Mozart - Symphonies 25 and 28
Mozart - Piano Sonata No.2
Nielsen

• Symphony No.2, "The Four Temperaments"
• Helios Overture
• Suite from "Snefrid"

Prokofiev - Ten pieces for piano from "Romeo and Juliet"
Rachmaninov - Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini
Rachmaninov - Symphonic Dances
Schumann

• Davidsbundlertanze
• Kinderszenen
• Kreisleriana
• Fantasy in C
• Violin Sonata No.1

Scriabin

• Piano Sonata No.5
• Allegro de Concert
• 2 Impromptus, op.12

Shostakovich - Symphonies 8 and 11
Sibelius - 5 Pieces for violin and piano, op.81
Sibelius - Erloschen
Villa-Lobos - 12 Etudes for guitar
Villa-Lobos - Bachianas Brasileiras No.8

This is one of those times when I look at the list and think, do I have anything I want to talk about?

It turns out the answer is, I want to talk about Haydn symphonies. It's taking a long time to work through the box of symphonies I bought in November 2016, but there's scarcely a disappointment in there. It's possible to argue there's a somewhat standard formula to Haydn's symphonies, but first of all Haydn practically invented that formula, and secondly there is a lot of invention and wit poured into that formula. So listening to each new work is always enjoyable.

And in September I was reaching the so-called Sturm and Drang period, where the symphonies are perhaps a touch more dramatic than before. Of the 5 symphonies listed here, 3 are in minor keys (though not all of them stay in the minor for long), which is as many as there were in 40+ symphonies before this. They're also larger in scale than before. So there's a great deal of interest in the music even after hearing a lot of Haydn over the previous months.

30 CDs of new Haydn is an awful lot to take on, but so far it's undoubtedly been worth it.