Favorite Haydn Symphonies Cycle (incomplete)

[Gurn Blanston]

I could do some research and find the answer....but you probably have it readily at hand: how many symphonies did Goodman complete before they pulled the plug on his cycle? I own 25 (1-5, 17-21, 45-47, 70-78, 90-92) but I know there are more.

Sarge

He did 1-25 complete. He did 31 on Nimbus (lovely performance with Halstead leading the horns), then jump up to 42-50. Then another big skip to 70-78. Then the Paris 82-87. Finally, 90-95, 100, 101, 102, 104.   100 & 104 are also on Nimbus, not Hyperion.

So, it looks like 60 in all.   

[Sergeant Rock]

He did 1-25 complete. He did 31 on Nimbus (lovely performance with Halstead leading the horns), then jump up to 42-50. Then another big skip to 70-78. Then the Paris 82-87. Finally, 90-95, 100, 101, 102, 104.   100 & 104 are also on Nimbus, not Hyperion.

So, it looks like 60 in all.   

Thank you.

I'm one shy of a complete Haydn Symphony collection: missing 11. Goodman is an obvious choice, and his continuo doesn't bother me as much in these early symphonies (and is more appropriate as you mentioned).

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

I'm one shy of a complete Haydn Symphony collection: missing 11.

An extraordinary (but, I see, only temporary) state of affairs, mon cher : )

[Sergeant Rock]

An extraordinary (but, I see, only temporary) state of affairs, mon cher : )

Instead of going the big box route, I decided to collect individual CDs and smaller boxes. Began in the late 80s with the Davis/Concertgebouw Hen and Bear, Mack's 31 & 45, and Szell's Londons. It's been a fun quarter century

Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

Thank you.

I'm one shy of a complete Haydn Symphony collection: missing 11. Goodman is an obvious choice, and his continuo doesn't bother me as much in these early symphonies (and is more appropriate as you mentioned).

Sarge

Obvious, and a good one too. 9-12 are some interesting works, especially #12 in E major.

Actually, I have done the symphonies the same way that you did. The Fischer was a combination of fallback + default acquisition when I bought the Big Box, which I did for other reasons than the symphonies. Not to say that I object to having them; I think they are the #1 choice for anyone wanting a complete set. 

[Karl Henning]

Instead of going the big box route, I decided to collect individual CDs and smaller boxes. Began in the late 80s with the Davis/Concertgebouw Hen and Bear, Mack's 31 & 45, and Szell's Londons. It's been a fun quarter century

You and Gurn, my dear fellow: you were Haydnistas before it was hip : )

[Gurn Blanston]

You and Gurn, my dear fellow: you were Haydnistas before it was hip : )

Although I'm much younger than Sarge; only 20 years for me! 

[Karl Henning]

Although I'm much younger than Sarge; only 20 years for me! 

Hah! : )

Well, there is this curious state of affairs where I have actually listened to a Haydn symphony which Sarge has not (momentarily committing the logical fallacy of equating Sarge does not own x with Sarge has never heard x): the Eleventh.

But do I remember the piece? Well . . . .

: )

[Opus106]

I picked individual performances when I was choosing symphonies, not cycles. I like that the Hogwood has more music in it, the more the merrier for MY money! In the early symphonies, where the band isn't but a dozen players or so, Hogwood's eschewing of continuo shows up as a negative for me. That's why most of my early choices are Goodman and Solomons. Later on, of course this matters far less as you can scarcely hear it anyway. But there is a lot more competition then too. So, in sum, mainly because of the super job Goodman does with the early works.

Thank you, Gurn.

[Gurn Blanston]

Imo, the Fischer set is excellent and amazingly consistent.  It is a solid choice for someone wanting all the symphonies, and while not my introduction to the symphonies, it was a set I bought fairly early on (I also bought the Solti set but prefer the Fischer).  Previously I had the more famous works done by Bernstein, Szell and a couple of others that escape my memory.  It was only later than I began looking for PI recordings and over time accumulated several sets or semi-sets of those - which have become my favorites.

In terms of complete sets, Fischer is far and away the pick of the litter. Dorati is a landmark, and if one collects historic recordings, then it is hard to imagine a collection without it. I was (and still am) stunned when Sony released Davies last year. Questions of quality or any other consideration notwithstanding (and there are some) one can only say "Why?". Where was the compelling need?  And this from a company that owns all of the Solomons recordings as well as the Weil/Tafelmusik ones. They at least re-released those, but the Solomons, probably the best set ever made, languishes in the vaults somewhere. Freaking boneheads ...    Anyway, one can put together an entire cycle (except for 79 & (most of)81) on PI and be very happy indeed.

[SonicMan46]

Well, of 'complete sets', Fischer is the only one I own, so he did receive my vote because the performances please me and the recording sound is generally quite good; now I would like to obtain another set and Goodman would certainly be in the running since I do have a few of his discs, but 'where' is an inexpensive box offering? (or am I missing one somewhere!).

My other Haydn symphony collections are predominately from the Paris through the London ones, and not much below those higher numbers - however will stay tuned into this thread for other possibilities!  Dave

[Sergeant Rock]

Well, there is this curious state of affairs where I have actually listened to a Haydn symphony which Sarge has not (momentarily committing the logical fallacy of equating Sarge does not own x with Sarge has never heard x): the Eleventh.

In fact, I haven't heard the 11th. Something to look forward to in my old age, eh? 

Sarge

[Sergeant Rock]

Imo, the Fischer set is excellent and amazingly consistent.

I can't speak for the whole, but what I have of Fischer's cycle is certainly good (two boxes with 21-39 and 70-81).

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

In fact, I haven't heard the 11th. Something to look forward to in my old age, eh? 

I am enjoying something of a comparable feeling, Sarge, simply in having waited all this time to listen to so much Haydn. . . .

: )

[Gurn Blanston]

Well, of 'complete sets', Fischer is the only one I own, so he did receive my vote because the performances please me and the recording sound is generally quite good; now I would like to obtain another set and Goodman would certainly be in the running since I do have a few of his discs, but 'where' is an inexpensive box offering? (or am I missing one somewhere!).

My other Haydn symphony collections are predominately from the Paris through the London ones, and not much below those higher numbers - however will stay tuned into this thread for other possibilities!  Dave

No, sorry, Dave. There is no box set offering, hard to believe that Hyperion haven't taken advantage of the opportunity (as someone mentioned earlier, while the Hogwood is being boxed up).

The Pinnock set of Stürm und Dräng Symphonies is worth owning. No one has mentioned it here yet, but if you only have late works and don't want to spend lots of time and money on a nice set of early/middle works, then the <>$30 for that set is well worth your time. 

[Gurn Blanston]

I can't speak for the whole, but what I have of Fischer's cycle is certainly good (two boxes with 21-39 and 70-81).

Sarge

If there really ever was a weak spot in that set it was the London's. I don't buy into that, just reporting back what was written at the time. I have found the entire set to be equally compelling.

[Karl Henning]

If there really ever was a weak spot in that set it was the London's. I don't buy into that, just reporting back what was written at the time. I have found the entire set to be equally compelling.

Interesting, Gurn. The friend who first informed me of this set remarked on the same lines; but come to think of it, I am not sure whether he was reporting hearsay, or signing on, himself.

[Gurn Blanston]

Yeh, I was surprised the Pinnock set had not been mentioned; you are right - it is a very good buy for that period. 

You also mentioned the Derek Solomon recordings, of which I have none.  Is there a better way to find a complete a set of these other than scouring eBay?

You won't find it that way, either. I got Vol 7 & 9, one on eBay and one on AMP. It took a few months. That's like 6 disks, but they aren't generously filled though. You can do that, and it's worth your while too. My investment is relatively small for the pleasure I got in return. The remainder I got as MP3's from an overly generous friend many moons ago. I don't use them in my surveys, but I listen to them occasionally. They just can't be had under normal circumstances. OK, maybe if someone dies and his estate goes up for sale..... 

[Sammy]

In terms of complete sets, Fischer is far and away the pick of the litter. Dorati is a landmark, and if one collects historic recordings, then it is hard to imagine a collection without it. I was (and still am) stunned when Sony released Davies last year. Questions of quality or any other consideration notwithstanding (and there are some) one can only say "Why?". Where was the compelling need? 

I'm not sure why you're perplexed about the release of the Davies set;  I think it's a good set and I really like how it was released complete instead of the dribbles that we get from Fey and most others.

I'm also not sure what you mean by "compelling need".  To be realistic, there's not any compelling need for any of these sets; anyways, that's how I see it.

[DavidRoss]

...while the Hogwood is being boxed up).

Something new? The multi-volume LL series appears to be OOP and I've not found a newer one via the usual suspects. Wait -- just checked jpc. They show this available at the end of this month:

Nos. 1-75 plus some of the Londoners.

70 euros, makes it about 90 bucks shipped to the States.