The Asyla Ensemble

We begin with Haydn’s Symphony No. 6 ‘Le Matin’: ‘a very good place to start!'  It’s a vibrant soundtrack for the morning written at the dawn of the Classical era, and indeed the dawn of the symphony.  Haydn had just started working at the Esterházy Palace on Vienna in the spring of 1761, and was keen to impress his employer, so there are many prominent solo passages for violins, flute, bassoon, cello and double bass.

Cellist Joe Davies shall take centre stage in the wonderfully eccentric Concerto in A Minor by  C.P.E. Bach.  The first of his three cello concerti, it is full of infectious nervous energy in their outer movements and tender lyricism in central ones.  They were so successful that Bach made versions of this work for flute (or oboists) and even harpsichord soloists.

Before the concerto Joe takes on the air of a butterfly in Kaija Saariaho’s ephemeral Sept Papillons (7 butterflies).  A finish composer now working in Paris, Saariaho has recently had success with three operas in the last 15 years, the first of which - L’Amour de loin – immediately preceded this work.  Written in 2000, Sept Papillons’s short images offer an intimate examination of life on an insectile scale. 

The evening will come to a fitting close with more exciting Haydn – his Symphony No. 8 ‘Le Soir’.  The finale of 'Le soir' doesn't sing you to sleep (it wasn't a title Haydn used), rather it is a fantastic display of energy.