Haydn - Symphonies 8 & 84, Violin Concerto in A major CD – review

The Guardian 60

Aisslinn Nosky (violin), Handel and Haydn Society/Christophers
(Coro)

This is the third in the Boston-based Handel and Haydn’s Society’s live recordings of Haydn symphonies for Coro. Symphony No 8, Le Soir, joins their earlier recordings of Le Matin and Le Midi to complete the Esterházy trilogy of 1761. It follows the others in its concerto grosso pattern, with some fine solo work from all parts of the orchestra (and lovely, though uncredited, theorbo playing). Aisslinn Nosky makes us listen anew to the Violin Concerto in A major, and the wind section excels in the sophisticated Symphony No 84. Yet, while the quality of playing by this American musical institution is never in question nor the deftness of its direction, this disc never really gets the pulse racing.