The Australian Haydn Ensemble, Tempora Mutantur, Albert Hall, December 17. Reviewed by
GRAHAM McDONALD.
WE normally hear the Sydney-based Haydn Ensemble three or four times a year, but this was but their second performance for 2020 following another back in February. A different program had been planned for this tour, but it was changed to include Haydn’s Symphony No.64, known by the nickname of “Tempora Mutantur” – “times are changed”. Hard to argue with that.
The Haydn Ensemble has always had flexible numbers of musicians, depending on the repertoire. For this program it was a string quartet with fortepiano and the addition of a flute for the Haydn Symphony. Violinist Skye McIntosh, the founder and artistic director of the ensemble, was joined by guest director Erin Helyard on fortepiano, with regular second violin Matthew Greco, Karina Schmitz on viola, cellist Daniel Yeadon and Melissa Farrow on flute.