Recordings That You Are Considering

[prémont]

I've listened to a C major and C minor in Gary Cooper's WTC-I (It doesn't seem to be on anyone's radar) and find myself well pleased. Tempos tend to be broad, which works well for me.

What is the tuning in Glen Wilson's set? It is pretty old, before authentic tunings became such a thing. I remember there was something of a stir when Watchon introduced a tuning which he said was based on the idea that the loops in the apparently ornamental scroll on Bach's manuscript was an indication of the tuning he favored.

https://bpl.rf.gd/larips/watchorn.html?i=1

I didn't find Glen Wilson's set on my streaming service, but I pulled the FLAC files from my Bach edition off my USB drive.

I don't know the tuning af Wilson's recording for sure. It isn't mentioned in the booklet. Wilson studied with Leonhardt in the 1970es and the WTC was recorded in the late 1990es. I got the recording as part of the complete Teldec Bach 2000 recording in the early 2000es. I'm rather sure that it isn't equal tuning.

I have owned Gary Cooper's WTC but culled it, finding it too bland. Tastes may differ.

[Madiel]

On the grounds that more Haydn is almost always a good thing, I'm considering the operas.

Antal Dorati recorded 8 of them, and I think in some cases that's the only recording. I'm trying one and quality seems fine. But... how are the actual operas? Given the almost total absence of Haydn's operas from the repertoire I'm wondering if they're just not of a good standard.

[Florestan]

On the grounds that more Haydn is almost always a good thing, I'm considering the operas.

Antal Dorati recorded 8 of them, and I think in some cases that's the only recording. I'm trying one and quality seems fine. But... how are the actual operas? Given the almost total absence of Haydn's operas from the repertoire I'm wondering if they're just not of a good standard.

Haydn and bad standards don't fit well.

Beside a handful of Mozart's and Gluck's, plus Il matrimonio segreto, how many other Classical Era operas are there in the repertoire? All couldn't have been that bad, though.

I've listened only to Orlando Paladino and La fedelta premiata. I remember nothing about the first. The second, though, it's almost belcanto in its profusion of great melodies and splendid vocality.

[Spotted Horses]

I don't know the tuning af Wilson's recording for sure. It isn't mentioned in the booklet. Wilson studied with Leonhardt in the 1970es and the WTC was recorded in the late 1990es. I got the recording as part of the complete Teldec Bach 2000 recording in the early 2000es. I'm rather sure that it isn't equal tuning.

I have owned Gary Cooper's WTC but culled it, finding it too bland. Tastes may differ.

I have been listening to Cooper (two pairs per day) and I have been finding them very satisfying. (Bland can be good.) His tempos are generally broad, which works for me because the clangyness of the harpsichord is an obstacle to me, and letting the notes ring allows the pure tone of each note to emerge to a greater degree.

Occasionally I intersperse an alternative, and in one instance I listened to the fuge in D major from book I by Verlet. It features dotted rhythms (reminiscent of a French overture) and includes a bit of rapid figuration. I Cooper I can hear the notes, in Verlet the figure is so fast it turned into what sounds like a tone cluster to me.

Based on my sampling other sets, I think that Leonhardt on Harmonia Mundi is another set that would appeal to me.

[JBS]

On the grounds that more Haydn is almost always a good thing, I'm considering the operas.

Antal Dorati recorded 8 of them, and I think in some cases that's the only recording. I'm trying one and quality seems fine. But... how are the actual operas? Given the almost total absence of Haydn's operas from the repertoire I'm wondering if they're just not of a good standard.

Whichever one you're listening to will give you a good idea of the rest. Haydn's operas are as good as anything else from that era by anyone except Mozart.
That said, I would not pay $128 US for them, which is the current lowest price on Amazon US for the Dorati set of all eight.
Dorati did not record Haydn's Orfeo opera, so you can get Hogwood's recording with Bartoli without worrying about future duplication.

[ritter]

On the grounds that more Haydn is almost always a good thing, I'm considering the operas.

Antal Dorati recorded 8 of them, and I think in some cases that's the only recording. I'm trying one and quality seems fine. But... how are the actual operas? Given the almost total absence of Haydn's operas from the repertoire I'm wondering if they're just not of a good standard.

I had the chance to see La vera constanza fully staged here in Madrid several years ago, and enjoyed it very much (I knew it from the Dorati recording, which boasts Jessye Norman among its cast). The opening scene is particular effective, as I remember.

[Madiel]

Whichever one you're listening to will give you a good idea of the rest. Haydn's operas are as good as anything else from that era by anyone except Mozart.
That said, I would not pay $128 US for them, which is the current lowest price on Amazon US for the Dorati set of all eight.
Dorati did not record Haydn's Orfeo opera, so you can get Hogwood's recording with Bartoli without worrying about future duplication.

If possible I would avoid both buying the set that has them all together, and buying anything from Amazon. 

Lots of the individual operas are available on eBay, and only the individual releases had libretti. I found a review that rightly says they could have at least given access to a PDF in the subsequent reissues.

[Madiel]

I had the chance to see La vera constanza fully staged here in Madrid several years ago, and enjoyed it very much (I knew it from the Dorati recording, which boasts Jessye Norman among its cast). The opening scene is particular effective, as I remember.

Funnily enough that is exactly the one I was trying.

All of the casts of the Dorati recordings seem quite impressive.

[JBS]

If possible I would avoid both buying the set that has them all together, and buying anything from Amazon. 

Lots of the individual operas are available on eBay, and only the individual releases had libretti. I found a review that rightly says they could have at least given access to a PDF in the subsequent reissues.

I refer to Amazon as a useful peg for market pricing.
I forgot about the problem of the libretti, but I am usually satisfied with synopses. Of course my approach has always been prima la musica...

[André]

Armida with a very fine Jessye Norman and Samuel Ramey is my favourite among Haydn's operas. A bit static dramatically but with very good music.