Giovanni Antonini and the Kammerorchester Basel bring vivid clarity and sharp humour to the Finale of Haydn’s Symphony No. 55 in E-flat major, nicknamed “Il maestro di scuola”. In this movement, Haydn plays with sudden dynamic contrasts, quick exchanges between sections, and a rhythmic energy that captures the bustle and comic discipline suggested by the symphony’s title. Antonini’s brisk pacing and the ensemble’s precision underline the movement’s playful character without losing its classical elegance.
This performance forms part of the long-term Haydn2032 project, which aims to record all of Haydn’s symphonies by the tricentenary of his birth in 2032. Conceived under Antonini’s artistic direction, the series pairs symphonies by theme, historical context or character, and often includes related works by Haydn’s pupils and contemporaries.
The movement featured in today’s video comes from the newly released eighteenth volume of the series, which brings together Symphonies Nos. 55, 56 and 29, along with the surviving Finale from Lessel’s Symphony No. 5.
You can listen to the complete album here
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