Fanfare

This splendid concert, recorded at a time when Jonathan Cohen was the cellist of the Fitzwilliam Quartet, presents Haydn’s very first string quartet – written as a five – movement divertimento with no real thematic development – and concludes with two of his more famous late works. Although the Fitzwilliam is a quartet that uses period instruments, it is different from many others in that in all other respects it plays with the kind of musical style we have come to accept in Haydn, i.e., it phrases lyrically rather than choppily, it has wit and humor, joie de vivre, and a sparkle missing from a great many of its historically informed brethren (and sisters). The early divertimento, alas, does not come off well, possibly (and I am only guessing at this) because the players chose to approach the music more objectively as a quartet and less as a serenade, which in fact it is, but that is a small blemish on an otherwise delightful disc.

The sound quality is natural and well balanced throughout. I certainly recommend this CD as an example of how one can play period instruments and still sound involved and charming, but stacked up against many other readings available out there – particularly the Kodaly Quartet (op. 71/2 on Naxos 8550394 and op. 77/2 on Naxos 8553146 – it is very good but not exceptional. If, however, this is the beginning of a complete Haydn quartet series on Diversions, there may indeed be a goodly market for it down the road.

—Lynn Rene Bayley