Baroque birthdays and British quartets
This month’s round-up also sees a mighty collection by Michael Haydn
The Michael Haydn Collection (Brilliant Classics 95885) seeks to fly the flag for Haydn the younger, who is often over-shadowed by Joseph. Despite the sheer volume of works encompassed in this 28disc collection, it remains a mere snip of the composer’s enormous output. Included, though, are 26 symphonies, 11 masses, a pair of requiems, an opera and the complete violin concertos and string quintets; so more than enough to be going on with. It has a huge performer list, too, including the Salzburg Haydn Quintet and Bournemouth Sinfonietta.
The cast list is much smaller for British
String Quartets (Naxos 8.502021), which collects all 20 of the Maggini Quartet’s discs in that series – recorded from 1994-2009. Boxed in a spectacular British landscape, the discs feature original artwork and explore chamber works by some 14 composers, from Alwyn to Walton. While quartets are the main focus, further works see guest appearances by the likes of pianists Peter Donohoe and Martin Roscoe, oboist Nicholas Daniel, flautist Michael Cox and clarinettist David Campbell.
Vincent Dumestre’s Le poème harmonique (Alpha Classics ALPHA
568) marks its 20th anniversary with a gilt-edged box of delights.
Two decades of recordings fill 20 discs, taking in French, Italian and English music from the 16th and 17th centuries. Fan the discs out and you’re presented with the colours of autumn leaves, stick them in your player and you’ll discover works by the likes of Cavalieri, Charpentier, Clérambault, Monteverdi, Purcell and more.
A decade before Dumestre’s ensemble began making music, Alfredo Bernardini’s group Zefiro was founded. Its 30th anniversary is celebrated in The Baroque Collection (Arcana A202), which features recordings previously released between 1993 and 2017. The ensemble, established by Bernardini with fellow oboist Paolo Grazzi and bassoonist Alberto Grazzi, performs both classic staples of the repertoire and a number of rediscoveries. Handel’s Music for the Royal Fireworks and Bach’s overtures sit alongside works such as Telemann’s Overture for Double Choir and a selection of concertos by Fasch.
The Magginis explore works by some 14 British composers