Northern Chamber Orchestra

Haydn

Symphonies
26 ("Lamentatione")
35, and 49 ("La Passione")

Naxos 8 550721
65 minutes: DDD
1992

Track Listing:

Symphony No. 26 in D Minor ("Lamentatione" )

1. Allegro assai con spirito
2. Adagio
3. Minuet & Trio

(4:32)
(6:32)
(4:01)

Symphony No. 35 in B Flat Major

4. Allegro di molto
5. Andante
6. Minuet & Trio
7. Finale: Presto

(5:13)
(6:01)
(3:40)
(4:54)

Symphony No. 49 in F Minor ("La Passione")

8. Adagio
9. Allegro di molto
10. Menuet & Trio
11. Finale: Presto

(8:04)
(4:36)
(5:03)
(3:11)

Review Excerpts

Nicholas Ward leads the Northern Chamber Orchestra in readings of Symphonies 26, 35 & 49 that leave the listener wanting more.. Brimming with the kind of detail that brings black-and-white notes to vivid life, even the accompanying harpsichord is balanced just right.

Los Angeles Reader

Here are very good performances of three of the so-called "Sturm und Drang" symphonies - full of pain and anger (except for No. 35, which is pretty charming).. Nicholas Ward leads them with a vitality and rough vigour that's well suited to the music.

CD Review (U.S.A.)

The Naxos disc.features the excellent Northern Chamber Orchestra.notable for its natural sense of phrasing, crisp rhythms and clear textures.I look forward to hearing more from this group in the Naxos series and recommend this series warmly.

CD Review (UK)

These are crisp and spirited readings of three symphonies from Haydn's impassioned Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) period.. Matters of balance and tempo are just right and the recordings are excellent. A winner.

Michael Edwards, BBC Music Magazine, August 1993.

These two serious works - the latter from the "Sturm und Drang" period - frame a beautifully judged performance of the warmer B flat major Symphony No. 35.. Ward's relatively leisurely tempos for the slow movements of all three works extremely well, holding the attention and observing the structure.

Classic CD, August 1993.

This commercial debut disc by the conductorless, Salford-based NCO is, quite simply, a stunner. Under the leadership of Nicholas Ward and the artistic direction of David Ellis - perfectionists both - the NCO is now one of the best chamber orchestras in Britain, and this 25th anniversary release is here to prove it. The three symphonies here played with such finesse, style and infectious enthusiasm are not among the most popular of Haydn's remarkable output, but this CD should correct that view. The vitality of the playing, with a lively ensemble, is a great tribute to the corporate talents of the players and the leadership of Nicholas Ward. With these crisp, clean, heart-warming performances on disc - especially of La Passione - the NCO have set a high standard, to match that which they have achieved and maintained in their concerts in the past few years.

Manchester Evening News, 12th August 1993

There are not many new discs of early Haydn symphonies sounding fresher or crisper than those just recorded for Naxos in Manchester by the Northern Chamber Orchestra.

The Guardian