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Let’s be a little ‘braver’ when performing Haydn!
REVIEW - BRAVE NEW WORLD
KINGS PLACE
IT was good to return to the Kings Place for an attractive Haydn programme given by the Classical Opera Company, to a well-filled Main Hall, as part of a week of imaginative and rewarding programmes.
Under their conductor Ian Page, the company continue their admirable exploration of the work of Haydn in this the 200th anniversary of his death, contrasting arias from his little-performed operas with symphonies.
Haydn’s long, creative life spanned great changes in musical style, from the late Baroque to the mature Classical and even, in his late years, a foreshadowing of 19th-century Romanticism.
He is seen as the “father of the symphony” and is famously quoted as saying: “I could make experiments, observe what created an impression... I had
to become original” – hence the “brave new world” of the series title.
The orchestra gave polished and sparkling performances of the symphonies which were full of interest, with many subtle and varied sonorities.
The arias were charmingly sung by the accomplished soprano Rebecca Bottone and tenor John MacMunn.
My only caveat is the “early music” playing style adopted by the orchestra, which for me detracted from some of the playing.
I must declare my antipathy for the current fashion for this style of interpretation, which seems increasingly intent on eliminating all vibrato, as though it is a modern invention that somehow detracts from a perceived historical “purity”.
This is historically wrong. Vibrato has been used on string instruments ever since the bow was invented, with treatises on its correct use going back as far as Ganassi’s Regola Rubertina of 1542. It was considered particularly important for expressive passages, as, for instance, in the beautiful first movement of Symphony No 34 which began the programme, which, without any vibrato was too dry and inexpressive.
I cannot imagine that someone so forward-looking as Haydn would want his music played in this anachronistic manner.
These explorations are most welcome, but can we have at least some vibrato in future please!
HELEN LAWRENCE |
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