Symphony No. 53 "L'Impériale" in D major Hob. I:53
Symphony No. 54 in G Major Hob. I:54
Symphony No. 53 "L'Impériale"

Maestro Thomas Fey and his ensemble continue their recordings of the complete Haydn Symphonies with two works composed in 1774. Both pieces display further advances in Haydn’s thinking about the symphonic form and exhibit further advances in orchestration. Both works abound in delightful melodies and as always with Haydn, a surprise or two! The Adagio assai of Symphony No. 54 is one of Haydn's most memorable. The movement is in sonata form and opens with a section marked messa di voce and builds up to a cadenza for solo violin. In view of the musical demands of these pieces, it is clear that Haydn’s orchestra consisted of well-trained, excellent musicians indeed. In this instance, the Heidelberg Symphony Orchestra is no different! Every new release of Haydn symphonies from Thomas Fey and his ensemble is greeted with enthusiasm; truly this is how Haydn should sound today. To bring this about, Fey’s musicians bridge past and present, performing both on modern string instruments and replicas of authentic period woodwind, brass and percussion instruments.