"Haydn Seek!" with Bruno Weil & David Gordon

by Barbara Rose Shuler

The hit combo of David Gordon and Bruno Weil in the Aha! programs of recent vintage is a tasty part of festival. These concerts are fun, informative, and surprising.

David – who provides narrative delivered with the panache of a gifted professional stage performer – writes: “In Carmel, Bruno and I have “schemed” together for several years to create a special Haydn concert highlighting the innovative and sometimes surprising aspects of “Papa” Haydn’s musical and personal character: jokester, ladies’ man, pioneer, superstar and deeply spiritual artist.”

Last night proved delightful, revealing and musically flawless with an lively sampling ranging from chamber works to full-scale choral and orchestral movements.

Haydn served as court musician at the remote Esterházy estate isolated from other centers of musical ferment until later in his wonderfully long life. He was "forced to become original" as he said.

We learned intriguing facts about Haydn’s life such as his marriage to the sister of his beloved (who went into a monastery), a liaison that proved disastrous due to the extremely disagreeable personality of his wife. She tore up his scores to curl her hair, and line pans etc. That’s up there with the wife of the explorer Richard Burton burning his 40 years of diaries and journals. Argh!

Despite this and other hardships, Haydn sustained a remarkable joy of being throughout his life, a joy reflected in his music.

The orchestra was joined by the festival orchestra, chorale, youth chorus (yes!!) and soloists including pianist David Breitman who played his early instrument in Trio No. 39 for Fortepiano, Violin and Cello in G Major with Libby Wallfisch, and Allen Whear.

The gorgeous voices of soprano Kendra Colton, tenor Alan Bennett and baritone Sanford Sylvan were showcased.

After he left Esterhazy, Haydn went to England, crossing the channel during a fierce storm, which inspired his Madrigal: Der Sturm (The Storm--a work rarely been performed, perhaps never in this country. Wonderful dynamics in this piece!

Lots more to say about this splendid Tuesday evening but time waits for no one and I must be off for now. Haydn Aha! will be reprised next week.
Word from the box office is that tickets are still available.

Cheers!
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Barbara Rose Shuler writes Intermezzo, which chronicles classical music, in the Monterey Herald's Go! Magazine each week. She can be contacted at wordways@comcast.net.
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