Haydn Symphonies - Mercury & La Passione
Tafelmusik; Rachel Podger
Tafelmusik Media TMK 1041CD (tafelmusik.org/meet-tafelmusik/recordings)
Over 30 years ago, when Tafelmusik was coming into its own as a world-class period instrument orchestra, they signed a multi-record deal with Sony Classical and set out on an ambitious voyage to record Haydn symphonies (and other repertoire) with the jovial German conductor Bruno Weil and the legendary producer Wolf Erichson. The relationship with Weil was transformative and I would argue that their collaborative exploration bred an innate flair for – and deep understanding of – Classical style that continues today.
Their newest recording – on their own Tafelmusik Media label – of symphonies 43 and 49 is full of attention to the minute details of Haydn’s quirky writing and is a welcome reminder of the ensemble’s virtuosity and breadth of expression. Haydn wrote the Symphony in F Minor No.49 (“La Passione”) in 1768, during what is known as his “sturm und drang” period, one that saw an astounding growth in his technique, planting the seeds and foreshadowing the German Romantic era that was to come decades later. Tafelmusik’s performance – directed from the violin by newly-appointed Principal Guest Conductor Rachel Podger – absolutely nails the colour, transparency, dramatic energy and harmonic tension present in every measure of this fantastic work.
The so-called “Mercury” Symphony No.43 was actually written three years later and is a sunny contrast to the broodiness of “La Passione.” It’s still packed with innovation and angst and the orchestra brings this out beautifully. How fabulous that one can compare this performance with Tafelmusik’s 1992 studio recording with Weil: both powerful, wonderful and full of life in quite different ways.
