Haydn 2032 Vol 4: Il Distratto (The Distracted)

Haydn 2032 Vol 4: Il Distratto (The Distracted) is the fourth volume of the Haydn 2032 project. The album thrusts into the limelight one of the most important stock characters in the theatre of sounds and words, the Kapellmeister, and explores some glamorous and (in)glorious moments in the career of Maestro Haydn.

It features three symphonies by the ‘Shakespeare of Music’ – one of which is even associated with an actual play. This bears the title ‘Sinfonia in C. per la commedia intitolata Il distratto – The Distracted’ (the name of the play soon became the symphony’s nickname) and consists of an overture, four entr’actes, and a finale to be played at the end of the performance.

Also on this album is a large-scale buffo scene by his colleague Cimarosa. Il maestro di cappella is a witty and ironic parody, in which a member of the ‘old school’ of musicians tries to improve the ensemble playing of his orchestra. To his chagrin, the players do react, but in extremely undisciplined fashion: they are distracted, make false entries and disagree musically.

Riccardo Novaro, Baritone
Il Giardino Armonico
Giovanni Antonini, Conductor & Musical Director