Australian enthusiasts of Baroque and early Classical repertoire are fortunate to have a number of fine period instrumental groups to choose from. The Australian Haydn Ensemble is one of these, and their all-Haydn final concert of the year was a fine display of 18th century music making. The concert included Joseph Haydn’s three ‘Tageszeiten’ symphonies (symphonies 6, 7 and 8), while Erin Helyard performed and led the D major Harpsichord concerto. The three symphonies were written while Haydn was resident at the Esterhazy Schloss, and are entitled ‘Le Matin’, ‘Le Midi’ and ‘Le Soir’ (morning, midday and evening). The resonances with Vivaldi’s illustrative ‘Four Seasons’ concerti are clear; indeed Prince Paul Esterhazy had discovered Vivaldi’s music while in Naples and had brought it back to Eisenstadt.

The ensemble did an excellent job of portraying sunrise in Symphony No. 6, with dynamics attentively observed. The symphony also incorporates a number of concertante moments – it is understood that Haydn would have led these symphonies from the violin, and therefore wrote supremely virtuosic moments  for himself. In this role, Marc Destrube ably led, although at times he suffered from a slightly unsure tone in the more challenging passages. Indeed, the...