The Australian Haydn Ensemble Presents Times Of Day Symphonies

The Australian Haydn Ensemble presents Haydn’s Morning, Noon and Night symphonies and showcases the baryton in a program called Haydn’s Times of Day. 

These morning (Le Matin), noon (Le Midi) and night (Le Soir) symphonies were among the 29-year-old Haydn’s first compositions for the court of Prince Paul-Anton of Esterházy in 1761. To Haydn, in his brand-new servant’s livery, they were a kind of double audition, and he passed with honours. He flattered his boss (who had asked for a new Four Seasons!) with a charming portrait of palace life from sunup to sundown – replete with singing lessons, servants bustling to serve lunch, a little operatic scene, and a late summer storm. And he flattered his musicians by giving all the principals, even the violone player, the chance to show off their solo skills in the presence of their illustrious patron.

For Haydn, in his brand-new servant’s livery, they were a kind of double audition, and he passed with honours. He flattered his boss (who had asked for a new Four Seasons!) with a charming portrait of palace life from sunup to sundown – replete with singing lessons, servants bustling to serve lunch, a little operatic scene, and a late summer storm. And he flattered his musicians by giving all the principals, even the violone player, the chance to show off their solo skills in the presence of their illustrious patron.

The Times of Day were followed by some 70 Esterházy symphonies, in which Haydn and his ensemble single-handedly carved out a new course in musical history. It sadly rolled on past the hundreds of compositions commissioned by the new Prince Nicholas for his favourite instrument, the baryton. By 1800, this viola da gamba/lute hybrid had gone the way of the dodo.

More recently, instrument makers have revived the strange beast from, as it were, fossilized remains, and here the wonderful gamba virtuoso Laura Vaughan gives you the rare chance of hearing its magical sound in a trio, and possibly the first performance of an octet that features it in 250 years.

ARTISTS: Skye McIntosh, director & violin /
Daniel Yeadon, cello /
Laura Vaughan, baryton
/The Australian Haydn Ensemble

The program: J. Haydn – Symphony No. 6 in D major Le Matin/ 
Symphony No. 7 in C major Le Midi
/Baryton Trio No. 70 in C major/ Divertimento à 8 for Baryton, 2 horns & strings No. 1 in D major/ 
Symphony No. 8 in G major Le Soir

Read our review of the AHE’s recent Die Stille Nacht concert.

Tickets: $25-$125

Bookings 

Tel: (02) 8256 2222