Haydn (1732-1809) already had written a wealth of sacred works when, in 1785, aged 53 and at the height of his fame, he received a commission for the cathedral of Cadiz in Spain, asking him to write ceremonial music for Good Friday. His challenge was to create an engaging and individual work to accompany the ritual. Haydn professed great difficulty in writing 7 instrumental Adagios of 10 minutes each without fatiguing the listener, but the result is a triumph of concentration, contemplation and spirituality.
Haydn wrote the work for string quartet, later versions appeared for keyboard solo and also orchestra. This new CD presents an arrangement for flute and string quartet by Francisco Asenjo Barbieri (1823-1894). The most striking feature is that the flute does not double or replace other pre-existing voices but is a fifth voice with completely new melodic material different from Haydn's original. • Played by Rafael Ruibérriz de Torres (flute) and the ensemble La Spagna, who also gave the world premiere of this version in the oratorio de la Santa Cueva in Cádiz in 2018.
Rafael Ruibérriz de Torres made a splendid recording of Boccherini’s Flute Quintets (BC96074) for Brilliant Classics.
