Haydn – Symphonies 21 & 51 & “Symphony for Spain” | Il Giardino Armonico, G. Antonini | Haydn2032

A historically informed live performance from Basel featuring Haydn alongside music by Gregor Joseph Werner and Gioachino Rossini. Programme Joseph Haydn (1732–1809) Symphony No. 21 in A major, Hob. I:21 (1764) I. Adagio II. Presto III. Menuet – Trio IV. Finale. Allegro molto Gregor Joseph Werner (1693–1766) From Six Fugues for Quartet: Fuga V in D minor I. Adagio ma poco II. Allegro III. Adagio Joseph Haydn Symphony No. 51 in B-flat major, Hob. I:51 (1773) I. Vivace II. Adagio III. Menuet – Trio IV. Finale. Allegro Gioachino Rossini (1792–1868) From Six Sonatas a quattro: Sonata Ia in G major I. Moderato II. Andante III. Allegro Joseph Haydn Symphony in C major, “Symphony for Spain”, Hob. deest (1773/1774) I. Allegro II. Poco adagio III. Menuet. Allegretto – Trio IV. Finale. Prestissimo Recorded Concert on 5 October 2026, recorded at Don Bosco Basel. © Joseph Haydn Foundation Basel, Haydn2032 © Peter Marlow, Magnum Photos About the programme The title Il dolce far niente derives from a letter of complaint written to Prince Nicolaus Esterházy in October 1765 by Gregor Joseph Werner, Haydn’s predecessor as Esterházy Kapellmeister. Werner accused the orchestra of “slothful idleness” and described Haydn as an “indolent director”. The criticism prompted Haydn and his copyist Joseph Elssler to begin compiling the so-called Entwurf-Katalog, a handwritten catalogue of Haydn’s works intended to demonstrate that Haydn and his orchestra were anything but idle. Symphony No. 21 dates from approximately the same period as Werner’s criticism. Symphony No. 51, with its unusually demanding horn parts, presents a very different kind of challenge. The programme also includes the so-called “Symphony for Spain”, a work assembled entirely from previously existing music and admitted to the canon of Haydn’s symphonies in 2013. It is thought to have been commissioned by a Spanish prince or princess. About Haydn2032 Haydn2032 celebrates Joseph Haydn’s 300th anniversary in 2032 by performing and recording all 107 symphonies with Il Giardino Armonico and the Basel Chamber Orchestra under the artistic direction of Giovanni Antonini. Learn more: https://www.haydn2032.com/en Support on Patreon:   / haydn2032   #josephhaydn #Haydn2032 #GiovanniAntonini #IlGiardinoArmonico #classicalmusic #symphony #historicallyinformedperformance