Such distinguished soloists would not have given their attention to this unfamiliar music unless it had been of high quality, and that is just what...

Such distinguished soloists would not have given their attention to this unfamiliar music unless it had been of high quality, and that is just what it is. The four ''London'' Trios of 1794-5 were really written for two flutes and cello, but they are none the worse for the flute/violin contrast. Trio No. 4 has only one movement (Haydn must have meant to write more), the other three, and their ebullience taxes the technique of all the players most agreeably, the humorous finales being a particular joy. The 'divertissements', also in three short movements, are from a set of six written in 1784, but much of the inventional comes from the opera Il mondo della luna and one of the baryton trios and so is much earlier still. The sleeve-note confuses by describing first what you think are the ''London'' Trios, but which turn out to be the unmentioned divertimentos; also timings of the movements and the complete works are chaotic. This of course does not matter; what does is that the music is so delightful and so beautifully played and recorded.'

-- Gramophone [10/1985]