Haydn Quatuors à cordes vol 20 Leipziger Streichquartett - MDG3072366 - MDG - Classique

Composés en 1788, les six Quatuors op. 54 et 55 forment un ensemble. C’est l’éditeur parisien Georges Siebert qui les publia séparément. L’op. 54 se distingue par la primeur donnée au premier violon. C’est lui qui introduit le thème dans l’Allegro con brio du numéro 1, qui domine l’envoûtant Allegretto mais c’est le violoncelle qui prend le relai dans le Trio alors que le final éblouissant réunit les quatre instruments dans un subtil dialogue entre pianissimi et forte. Contraste ascendant descendant et développement contrapuntique dans le Vivace du second quatuor en ut mineur plus intimiste, encore un premier violon conquérant et péroreur. Merveilleux et atypique final qui débute adagio pour enchaîner sur un féroce presto. Chromatismes et modulations, jeu de questions / réponses sont à l’œuvre dans le troisième numéro. L’animation polyphonique et l’impeccable structure du style du compositeur sont présentes sans compter les surprenantes pauses du final. Le Leipziger Sttreichquartett dont c’est le vingtième volume du corpus des quatuors de Haydn fait montre d’une très belle sonorité d’ensemble. (Jérôme Angouillant)

France was on the brink of revolution and Haydn was at the height of his international fame. These flamboyant quartets were written especially for the lucrative Parisianmarket,where quatuor brillant was becoming increasingly popular. The style is dazzlingly virtuosic and Stefan Arzberger shines with Haydn's most brilliant, high-flying, concerto-like passages, leading this remarkable ensemble's captivating interpretation with admirable aplomb. Haydn knew the Parisians loved sensational soloistic displays and he could incorporate these into his quartets without sacrificing depth or complexity. Quartet No. 2 in particular has an intensity that captures the mood of the exceptional era in which it was composed. Harmonically it anticipates Beethoven with its dramatic impact and astonishing boldness. Above the sombre chorale-like theme of the Cminor Adagio in Quartet No. 2, the first violin weaves impassioned, Gypsy-infused fantasies. Like the other slow movements of opus 54, the expressiveness is immensely gratifying and soul-soothing. The Allegretto of Quartet No. 1 is siciliana-like and enigmatic, combining nostalgia and regret in amood both sophisticated and pensive. Haydn had entrusted his manuscripts to Johann Tost, entrepreneur, scam artist & shrewd arms dealer, to sell to a publisher in Paris. He enquired "Now I would ask you to tell me candidly just how, and in what fashion, Herr Tost behaved in Paris. Did he have an 'amour' there? And did he also sell you the 6 quartets, and for what sum?" As a sign of his gratitude, Haydn dedicated his opus 64 to Tost (although later retracting it), and so along with opp. 54 & 55 they became known as the "Tost Quartets".