Among the major conductors of the historical performance movement,
William Christie
has been slower than others to move beyond the Baroque. He has recorded some
Haydn
with his orchestra
Les Arts Florissants
, including a notably successful take on the oratorio
Die Schoepfung
. Here, he offers readings of four of
's six "Paris" symphonies, missing only the
Bear
and the
Hen
. They were premiered by the
Orchestra of the Olympic Lodge
under the direction of the newly rediscovered Black conductor and composer
Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges
, with an orchestra including 40 violins and ten double basses. It is interesting how orchestra size is rarely considered when "authentic" performances are being organized, and
Christie
's group is considerably smaller than that. However, listeners will experience the durable virtues of
, including energetic Allegro movements and fine instrumental work from the difficult period brasses and winds. Perhaps
's minuets sound too much like the French Baroque dance; they are stately rather than humorous. On the plus side is the performance of the rather rarely heard
Violin Concerto No. 1, Hob. 7a/1
, by the impressively named
Theotime Langlois de Swarte
, who also conducts the piece (and is a bit livelier than
); sample his highly tuneful Adagio.
Harmonia Mundi
's noisy Cite de la Musique sound, in music written for a theater of well-upholstered luxury boxes, is a disincentive here. ~ James Manheim