GABOR Tákacs Nagy and the Irish Chamber Orchestra present ‘Haydn in Esterhazy’, the first chapter of a journey through the life of Haydn. During the season (September to March 2014), the ICO will visit landmarks in the composer’s life featuring some of his most influential symphonies.
Haydn was considered to be the architect of classical music and Beethhoven was among the many who looked up to him; Haydn taught counterpoint, among other things, from 1792-94.
Limerick has a chance to hear the opening strains in concert at UCH on Friday September 13, 8pm. These concerts are dedicated to the late John Ruddock, founder of the Limerick Music Association and the Dublin based Association of Music Lovers.
‘Haydn in Esterhazy’ represents a period when the 30-year-old composer began a lifelong relationship with the wealthiest of Hungarian nobility, the Esterhazy family, where he spent his next 30 years as vice-Kapellmeister.
The ICO’s principal artistic partner Gábor introduces an international bright light, Hungarian cellist István Várdai, last year’s winner of the Prix Montblanc, a prestigious award for rising young stars.
Vardai performs Haydn’s long-lost C major Concerto, full of fire and spirit and only re-discovered in 1961. The music of CPE Bach greatly inspired Haydn and Bach’s Cello Concerto in A is a real gem.
Book-ending this stunning programme are two of Haydn’s most celebrated symphonies. No. 49 La Passione (his only F minor symphony) and No. 52 in C minor, rank with the most emotionally tense works of his Sturm und Drang period and their eruptive moods and jagged rhythms play directly to the ICO’s strengths.
Book for the concert hall on www.uch.ie and at box office for this Friday 13 at 8pm.
