Reviewed by Dave Massey

Each of these sonatas was designed by Haydn to intersperse seven discourses by the Bishop of Cadiz on the last words of Christ. Each time, he would give his talk and then prostrate himself by the altar whilst the music was played. On this recording the Delme Quartet give a polished and accurate performance which is just a little too slick for my liking and lacks some of the emotion needed to carry this work through successfully especially on the second sonata, "Father Forgive Them". As the sleeve notes point out, a quartet, even when playing at full tilt, cannot produce the same effect a full-size orchestra must have produced in Cadiz Cathedral on "II Terremoto" (literally The earth moves') with its violent slides and strong chords depicting the breaking of rocks and the opening of graves! The earth did not move for me on this recording I'm afraid.