Beethoven’s Fifth – The Australian Haydn Ensemble

William Watts, who made the arrangement, would have led the violins or violas at its British premiere in 1816, when the canons of Waterloo were still resounding. As secretary of the newly formed London Philharmonic Society, he was only two degrees of separation from the composer, the link being Ferdinand Ries, Beethoven’s talented pupil.

Ries’ distinctive voice is on display in the flute quintet presented here. It’s delightful, not lightweight, and full of fascinating eccentricities to amuse the teacher whose presence, real or ghostly, must always have been looking over his shoulder.

Boccherini’s colourful quintet depicting everything from church bells, street singers and night-watch drums in the streets of Madrid, completes the program. It includes the famous instruction for the two basses to strum their instruments horizontally, guitar-style.

Discover uncharted territory in works both familiar and lesser-known.

Program:

FERDINAND RIES
Flute Quintet Op. 107 in A minor
BOCCHERINI
Night Music of the Streets of Madrid Op. 30 No. 6 (G. 324)
BEETHOVEN
Symphony No. 5 (arr. Watts)