Haydn: Violin Concertos

Hadelich (Artist), Cologne Chamber Orchestra (Artist), Haydn (Composer), Muller-Bruhl (Conductor) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Conductor: Muller-Bruhl
• Composer: Haydn
• Audio CD (May 27, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B000YDJF5E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #102,422 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

ClassicsToday.com, Dan Davis, June 2008 ClassicsToday.com, Dan Davis, June 2008

Helmut Müller-Brühl and his modern-instrument Cologne Chamber Orchestra record frequently for Naxos, and this is one of their best Haydn outings, supporting the soloist with energy and style. The engineering also is well up to snuff, with admirable transparency in such episodes as the opening of the C major's Adagio movement, where the solo violin sings the melody over the strings' pizzicato accompaniment.

AllMusic.com, Mike D. Brownell, June 2008

To the delight of listeners, violinist Augustin Hadelich possesses not only the refined technical abilities necessary to execute these concertos, but also the musical clarity and youthful exuberance that elevate these works to their appropriate status. His playing is crisp and energetic, filled with appropriately- and successfully-taken risks; although the cadenzas that he composed for each of the concertos are somewhat more on the Romantic side, they still retain Haydn's overall concept and do not get in the way of the flow of the works. His lucid tone and brilliant articulation is matched measure for measure by the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, which not only supplies a solid background, but equally exciting and engaging orchestral tuttis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely first album by extraordinary violinist, July 15, 2008

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September - See all my reviews

This review is from: Haydn: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

I was not very familiar with Haydn's violin concertos but I am tremendously enjoying this album. Haydn's violin concertos are perhaps not frequently played in concert halls nor recorded by already-established violinists and it is a pleasure to hear them soloed by a brilliant violinist, Augustin Hadelich. He's brought a whole new character and color into the work and the sound he is creating especially in the slow Adagio sections is exquisite. I had the opportunity to hear him live earlier this year and it was truly the most unforgettable musical experience of my life. His virtuosity was astonishing but I was most moved by the incredible depth of his music making. He seems to have the special ability to touch the very core of music and tell us the story of the music in a unique, inspiring way. His playing does remind me of Arthur Grumiaux because of the sincerity and nobility of the sound. And like Grumiaux, Hadelich's playing is about the music not about himself. I think many people can feel that in this album.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Rising Star ?, June 26, 2008

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Ross Kennett "Ross Kennett" (Narooma, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haydn: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

Haydn: Violin Concertos

There are four surviving violin concertos by Haydn, on this CD we have nos 1,3 and 4. The soloist is the 24 year old Augustin Hadelich making what is probably his first recording, accompanied by the strings of the Cologne Chamber Orchestra, Naxos' "house orchestra", which has made very many fine recordings.
The concertos were probably written for Luigi Tomasini, the leader of Haydn's orchestra, and the early performances would have been directed by Haydn from the harpsichord. As this is a modern interpretation the harpsichord has a minor role, and there is plenty of bow pressure on the strings and plenty of vibrato, in fact too much in a few very short passages in the slow movements. But overall soloist and orchestra combine well and have produced a very fine recording of these virtuoso works.
I have the recent re-releases on Australian Eloquence of two of these concertos played by Arthur Grumiaux, THE violinist of the middle of the 20th century; Grumiaux was superb playing Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. To say that Hadeldich is almost as good is praise indeed.
I can easily forgive a little wobbley vibrato, made up for by an otherwise fine performance, the excellent sound, and the bargain price.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Augustin Hadelich Plays Haydn, October 19, 2009

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Robin Friedman (Washington, D.C. United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haydn: Violin Concertos (Audio CD)

A feeling of joy, song and musicianship pervades this recording of the Haydn violin concertos by the young violinist Augustin Hadelich (b. 1984). Hadelich is a German violinist, born in Italy, who studied at Juilliard and won the 2006 International Violin Competition in Indianapolis. Hadelich has had a painful journey to artistic success. In 1999, at the age of 15, his bowing arm and face were badly burned in a fire at his home. After what surely was a difficult rehabilitation process Hadelich began to play again in 2001. In this, his first recording, Hadelich plays with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra conducted by Helmut Muller-Bruhl. The recording includes Hadelich's own cadenzas for each of the three concertos. The recording is available individually and as part of a six CD set on Naxos of the complete Haydn concertos with the Cologne Chamber Orchestra and Muller-Bruhl as part of a series of Haydn compilations that commemorate the 200th anniversary of the composer's death (1732 - 1809).

Following a January, 2009, recital at the Kennedy Center, Anne Midgette of the Washington Post wrote that "Augustin Hadelich is in touch with the sunny side of the violin." She wrote further that Hadelich "conveys a sense that music is worthwhile; and his sunniness derives, perhaps, from bearing talent like a gift rather than a weight upon his shoulders." With their sunny, cheerful character, these three concertos are ideal works for Hadelich. His performances on this CD confirm Midgette's insight into his special gift.

Haydn's three violin concertos are early works, written in the 1760s at the outset of his long service to the Esterhazy family. These works were written in for a small chamber orchestra in a Baroque style. They should not be confused with or judged by subsequent classical or romantic developments of the concerto form. The concertos in C and A major were written to showcase the talents of the concertmaster at Esterhazy, Luigi Tomasini. They are cheerful, radiant pieces in which the soloist alternates with the strings accompanied here by a prominent harpsichord continuo.

The outer movements of concerto in C major features wide leaps in the solo part, double stops, frequent ornamentation and trills, and high notes. Typically, the orchestra and the soloist take turns stating and embellishing the themes. The second movement of this concerto, marked adagio, shows a radiant and songlike expressiveness. It consists of a lengthy slow theme played by the violin over a plucked accompaniment in the lower strings. It reminded me of a serenade or of a florid aria from an early Italian opera.

The A major concerto begins with a more elaborate and virtuosic opening movement which again features extensive double stops and the use of the upper ranges of the violin. It features a lengthy development section in which the violin plays lyrically over the continuo. Again, the highlight of this early work is the songlike, expressive second movement. After an orchestral introduction, the violin plays a lyrical theme which continues to roll out in long, flowing phrases.
A lively, difficult allegro replete with double stops and long chains of rapid-fire bowing concludes the work.

The final work on this CD, the concerto in G major, appears to be an earlier work than its companions and lacks their virtuosity and brilliance. The violin part is relatively uncomplicated and the music routine. The orchestra tends to be given the leading role in this concerto with the violin generally following in its steps and echoing its themes. The work includes an extensive slow movement but overall is of substantially less interest than the C and A major concertos.

I am attaching links to Hadelich's two subsequent recordings of solo music for the violin, including a release issued within the past month. With his enthusiastic, joyful playing, Hadelich is an artist to be watched.

Robin Friedman
Telemann: Twelve Fantasies for Solo Violin
Flying Solo