Hyperion Records

The opening movement of Symphony No 24 is one of the most dramatic in Haydn’s early symphonies. Dismissing the subtleties of crescendos and diminuendos, the score is full of frequent alternations of piano and forte markings, while the development becomes a succession of fortissimo bars concentrating wholly on vigorous movement and chromatic modulation—the recapitulation has to begin in muted form, after a pause, to dissipate this energy.

Throughout his years with the Esterházy family, Haydn liked to give his many distinguished instrumentalists a chance to shine in his symphonies and for the slow movement of No 24 he introduces a cantabile flute solo that, like so many of these instances, could have drifted in from a concerto. The flute returns briefly in the minuet’s trio section, but is otherwise silent—it would be a number of years before the instrument found a permanent place in Haydn’s symphonic orchestra. The Finale returns to the dynamic contrasts of the opening movement.

from notes by Matthew Rye © 1994