Joseph Haydn spent three decades in the service of the Esterházy family, one of the wealthiest and most powerful families of the Hungarian aristocracy.
Historical Context
The Esterházy family's summer residence, Eszterháza Castle, became renowned across Europe as a center for musical and cultural excellence, with an opera house and puppet theater.
Compositional Technique
All three symphonies on this album follow the established four-movement form, with Symphonies 73 and 75 featuring a slow introduction to the opening movement, a favorite device of Haydn's.
Cultural Impact
Haydn's music was already making him a celebrity all over Europe by the late 1770s, with his symphonies regularly featured in concert programs in Paris and London.
Interpretation
The Hanover Band performs on period instruments at a pitch of A = 430Hz, and the director, Roy Goodman, directs from the harpsichord for these symphonies.
Recording & Production
The tempo markings for these performances have been reassessed, particularly for Andante and Minuet movements, which are often performed too slowly nowadays.
Composition History
By the early 1780s, when these symphonies were composed, Haydn had begun to resent the claustrophobic environment of Eszterháza and wrote increasingly for outside bodies.
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Haydn: Symphonies / Sinfonien Nos. 72, 73 "La Chasse", 74
