Le pescatrici (The Fishergirls)
Although Haydn (1732-1809) is best remembered as a composer of symphonies, quartets and oratorios, opera formed a substantial part of his output and from 1776 to 1790 it dominated his life. Between 1761 and his death in 1809 he was to serve four successive Esterhazy princes and all but one of his operas was written for the family. Haydn was responsible for supervising and directing the music at the two theatres, operatic performances alternating with spoken plays given by visiting troupes of actors. The Esterhazy court did not have a resident poet which meant that the composer, unlike Galuppi, Gluck and Mozart, did not have the opportunity to develop a partnership with a librettist: many of Haydn’s libretti had already proved popular in settings by other composers. As expected in a composer whose reputation rested on instrumental music his arias are often richly orchestrated, the ensembles finely crafted and all have individuality of melody and, especially, harmony that makes for a wholly positive appreciation of the composer’s talents.
Press
a serious business with remarkable artistic standards Opera, October 2009
a radiant whole Opera Today, 20 September 2009
plenty of laughs…. strongly cast The Oxford Times, 24 July 2009
