COMPOSERS: Haydn
LABELS: Harmonia Mundi
WORKS: The Seven Last Words of Christ (String Quartet, Hob III:50-56)
PERFORMER: Quatuor Festetics
CATALOGUE NO: HMA 1903043 DDD (1991)
The Seven Last Words is among Haydn’s most moving works; seven reflective sonatas, brilliantly varied, inspired by Christ’s utterances on the cross. Composed originally for orchestra, the piece was adapted by Haydn for string quartet in 1787. Quatuor Festetics, on period instruments, favour a sober, restrained approach, affecting at times though a touch deliberate. There are good rival versions by Quatuor Mosaïques on Astrée (at full price) and the Kodály Quartet on Naxos (with modern instruments). Graham Lock
Haydn: The Seven Last Words of Christ (String Quartet, Hob III:50-56)
The Seven Last Words is among Haydn’s most moving works; seven reflective sonatas, brilliantly varied, inspired by Christ’s utterances on the cross. Composed originally for orchestra, the piece was adapted by Haydn for string quartet in 1787. Quatuor Festetics, on period instruments, favour a sober, restrained approach, affecting at times though a touch deliberate. There are good rival versions by Quatuor Mosaïques on Astrée (at full price) and the Kodály Quartet on Naxos (with modern instruments). Graham Lock
Our rating
4
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:33 pm