Harmos Records: HAR102

The CD divertimenti is slightly unusual in the context of Haydn Celebrations as the repertoire recorded is less well known by the general public. The set of 6 divertimenti for flute, violin and cello has been almost completely disregarded outside the repertoire of flautists and is seldom heard in concerts. This collection of beautiful and elegant pieces is performed by Luis Meireles (flute), Pedro Meireles (violin) and Ken Ichinose (cello).

Divertimento is the Italian word for amusement, from the verb divertire. These short, simply constructed and delightful works composed by Haydn in 1784 are intended to do just that; to entertain and amuse the audience with their light, buoyant tone, requiring little of the listener but to take pleasure in the sound of the music.

Although the instruments used in this recording have a contemporary set up, in the interpretation heard here, the artists are well aware of performance practice relative to the early classical period and create a sound that brings together the exciting length of phrasing and complex shapes that have been developed through the romantic period and the 20th century and the elegant, beauty-filled sound and charged energetic articulation of the period instruments interpretations.