Haydn's genius is evident in his ability to create profound effects from simple elements, such as transforming a basic scale into a touching serenade movement in the C major concerto's Adagio.
Compositional Technique
Haydn's G major concerto (Hob. VIIa:4) most clearly follows the Baroque solo concerto tradition, using orchestral ritornellos to structure its outer movements.
Historical Context
The Esterhazy court, where Haydn worked, was a powerful center in the Habsburg empire, with Prince Nikolaus building a magnificent palace inspired by Versailles.
Instruments
Isabelle Faust, the violinist on this recording, plays the 'Sleeping Beauty' Stradivarius of 1704, on loan from the Landeskreditbank Baden-Württemberg.
Composer Biography
Joseph Haydn was appointed Vice-Kapellmeister to Prince Paul Anton von Esterhazy in 1761, a position that offered him significant career opportunities.
Composition History
Haydn's violin concertos were written for Luigi Tomasini, a violinist Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy brought from Italy and sent to Venice for training.
Composition History
One of the three surviving violin concertos, the C major concerto (Hob. VIIa:1), is explicitly dedicated to Luigi Tomasini, with Haydn noting 'fatto per il luigi' in his manuscript.
