Franz Josef Haydn (1732-1809) composed his String Quartets (6), published as his Op. 64 in 1790, on the eve of his first concert trip to London. Of the six, the String Quartet in G major for two violins, viola and cello, H. 3/66, was the fourth in order of publication, probably the fourth in order of composition, and the last in order of significance. With its Italianate lyrical themes, the opening Allegro con brio sounds more like an attempt at a Mozart quartet dedicated to Haydn than a movement composed by Haydn. By coming second in the order of movements, the following Menuetto returns to Haydn's preferred order of movements from nearly 20 years earlier and its central Trio is almost a concertante for first violinist. Likewise, the following Adagio, with its long cantabile first violin, is almost a romance for violin and accompaniment. The closing Presto is the most successful movement of the four, a vigorous tour de force of modulatory brilliance. Although a lovely work with many gorgeous melodies and delightful coloristic touches, the G major quartet is not the 58-year-old Haydn at his best.

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