Beethoven’s Pastoral

The Australian Haydn Ensemble is well known for its unearthing of forgotten composers and rediscovery of unknown historical chamber versions of the classics. In this program it brings to light two of the greats: Beethoven’s Pastoral and Mozart’s Haffner Serenade along with a melancholic and moving string sextet by Boccherini.

Beethoven often criticised chamber versions of his own works by other composers. The eighteenth century arrangement of Beethoven’s masterwork, the Pastoral, presented in this program, however, is a vibrant and passionate reinterpretation of this dramatic work that will capture your imagination and reinvent it for you as a septet.

Mozart’s Haffner Serenade is perhaps one of his most frequently performed works. This chamber version, arranged by eighteenth century Italian composer Girolamo Masi is possibly unknown.

AHE also performs a beautiful, dark and moving string sextet in F minor by Luigi Boccherini. Boccherini takes the listener on a journey full of drama, melancholy and dance – a characteristic of his music that makes it a listening pleasure.