Haydn symphonies

[Cosi bel do]

Jeffrey Smith invited me to share my experience of listening to all versions I own of all Haydn symphonies, in Hoboken order. I thought the Haydn Haus was not the appropriate subject and it would be more interesting to create a topic on Haydn symphonies, just as topics exist on his quartets and keybord sonatas.
Let's not forget, though, the other existing topics on favourite cycles, on the London symphonies sets, and on the =http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?topic=10824.0Dorati set.

So, here is a place to discuss the discography of Haydn symphonies, whether you want to share your favourites, or ask for advice

[Cosi bel do]

About my own listening project, and the methodology :
- I have listened to all symphonies, with 2 to 14 versions available for each. This means I only had one complete set, the Dorati & Philharmonia Hungarica. I will probably listen to Russell Davies and Adam Fischer someday, but I preferred to have a maximum of different interpreters during the overall process, otherwise I'm afraid I could have lost interest quite fast...
- I had other almost-full cycles though, mainly Hogwood's and Goodman's. And I was very surprized that this comparison led me to reevaluate my opinion about Goodman, and, frankly, to judge many Hogwood recordings underwhelming, and sometimes really barely interesting at all.
- I also had many cycles of the Paris and London symphonies, plus anthologies by Pinnock (Sturm & Drang), Brüggen (Sturm & Drang, Paris, London), Harnoncourt (recordings with Concentus + with Concertgebouw), Weil... I still have to listen to a few Paris and mostly London cycles (Jochum, Minkowski, Abbado, Davis, Kuijken DHM), but I listened to most others (including Karajan, Bernstein, Beecham, Szell's incomplete cycle with redundant recordings...), and anyway it is quite understandable that the task is more difficult with these last 12 symphonies.
- Edit: Since then, I listened to the following additions: Paris symphonies by Harnoncourt; London symphonies by Kuijken; Fey's cycle vol. 1-11; Solomon's recordings; and a bunch of separate recordings of some symphonies (see names in the list for the best of them).
- In general I tried to be quite neutral regarding interpretative approach, or at least not to disqualify a version because it has a continuo, when it is quite unneccessary and has been proven quite wrong by musicologists. I prefer a version with disputable choices but with a convincing result in terms of technical quality and musical "speech".
- I didn't try to define each time the "best" version, but to evaluate how each succeeded... This means that there can be two or more "best" versions, and also that the "best" versions I mention can be quite weak actually if no other is better (for instance in symph. 28, 34, 40, 66... none is really convincing).

So, now that I am almost finished here are my favourite versions for each symphony. Of course I don't say I am "right", I don't even say I would agree with myself if I did the comparison again, but I still tried to make choices on criteria that are not entirely individual taste. And you can see trends that might be of interest.

1. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
2. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
3. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band /// Christopher Hogwood / AAM
4. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
5. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
6. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
7. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien /// Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
8. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
9. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
10. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
11. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
12. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
13. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
14. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
15. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
16. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
17. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
18. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
19. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
20. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
21. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
22. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
23. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
24. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
25. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
26. Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
27. Christopher Hogwood / AAM
28. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica /// Christopher Hogwood / AAM
29. Christopher Hogwood / AAM
30. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
31. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
32. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica
33. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica
34. Thomas Fey / Heidelberger Sinfoniker
35. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert
36. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica
37. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica
38. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
39. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
40. Thomas Fey / Heidelberger Sinfoniker
41. Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
42. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
43. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
44. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert /// Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
45. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien /// Trevor Pinnock / English Concert 
46. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert 
47. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert 
48. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
49. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert /// Roy Goodman / Hanover Band /// Gottfried von der Goltz & Freiburger Barockorchester
50. Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik
51. Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik
52. Sigiswald Kuijken / La Petite Bande /// Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik /// Thomas Fey / Heidelberger Sinfoniker
53. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
54. Christopher Hogwood / AAM (2nd version of the symphony)
55. Hermann Scherchen / Wiener Symphoniker
56. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica /// Christopher Hogwood / AAM
57. Thomas Fey / Heidelberger Sinfoniker
58. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert
59. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert /// Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
60. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
61. Thomas Fey / Heidelberger Sinfoniker
62. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica /// Christopher Hogwood / AAM
63. Christopher Hogwood / AAM
64. Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik
65. Trevor Pinnock / English Concert /// Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik
66. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica
67. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica /// Christopher Hogwood / AAM
68. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
69. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
70. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
71. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
72. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
73. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concentus musicus Wien
74. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
75. Thomas Fey / Heidelberger Sinfoniker
76. Christopher Hogwood / AAM
77. Christopher Hogwood / AAM
78. Roy Goodman / Hanover Band
79. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
80. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
81. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
82. Herbert von Karajan / Berliner Philharmoniker /// Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik /// Harnoncourt / Concentus Musicus Wien
83. Harnoncourt / Concentus Musicus Wien
84. Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik /// Harnoncourt / Concentus Musicus Wien
85. Guy van Waas / Les Agrémens
86. Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic /// Harnoncourt / Concentus Musicus Wien
87. Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic /// Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica & Roy Goodman / Hanover Band /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century /// Harnoncourt / Concentus Musicus Wien
88. Wilhelm Furtwängler / Berliner Philharmoniker
89. Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik
90. Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century /// Bruno Weil / Tafelmusik
91. Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century
92. Sigiswald Kuijken / La Petite Bande
93. Thomas Beecham / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra /// Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concertgebouworkest
94. Wilhelm Furtwängler / Wiener Philharmoniker /// Pau Casals / Marlboro Festival Orchestra
95. Pau Casals / Marlboro Festival Orchestra /// Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concertgebouworkest /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
96. Christopher Hogwood / AAM /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
97. George Szell / Cleveland Orchestra (1957) /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
98. Ferenc Fricsay / RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
99. Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century
100. Ferenc Fricsay / RIAS-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin /// Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic /// Christopher Hogwood / AAM /// Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concertgebouworkest
101. Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony Orchestra /// Fritz Reiner (and "his Symphony Orchestra") /// Frans Brüggen / Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
102. Leonard Bernstein / New York Philharmonic 1962 /// Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concertgebouworkest /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
103. Antal Dorati / Philharmonia Hungarica /// Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concertgebouworkest
104. Nikolaus Harnoncourt / Concertgebouworkest /// Sigiswald Kuijken / Petite Bande
105. (Sinfonia Concertante) Wiener Staatsopernorchester / Hermann Scherchen
107. (Symphonie "A") Christopher Hogwood / AAM
108. (Symphonie "B") Christopher Hogwood / AAM

Favourite cycles for :
- Paris symphonies : 1. Harnoncourt / 2. Weil / 3. Bernstein / 4. Kuijken / 5. Brüggen / 6. Goodman & Karajan ex aequo / 8. Dorati & Fey ex aequo.
- London symphonies : ...

If I had to recommend someone what to buy for a start, I would say without reserve the Pinnock set, the Weil set with Tafelmusik, and both sets by Harnoncourt on Teldec. These are the overall best Haydn symphonies first buys, IMHO.
Goodman is great in general (despite the continuo, which sounds real out of place in later symphonies), the only issue is that you have to buy each CD separately...
The Brüggen Sturm & Drang, Paris and London symphonies have just been released again : here are some of the finest Haydn readings I have heard, but some other takes are by comparison not very good (the set actually mixes live and studio recordings with 2 different orchestras, made during a long time span).

And if I had to recommend only one CD, one recording, one symphony even, to listen if you have never heard a Haydn symphony, without any shadow of a doubt I'd say : Symphony no. 95, Pau Casals, Marlboro Festival Orchestra. The symphony 94 (recorded the next day) is also incredible, but I think in the 95 Casals manages to do something rare (and it makes this recording one of my all-time favourites), which is to reveal how a score than could appear a little ordinary (Papa Haydn, etc, etc) is truly a real gem, one of the best symphonies ever composed. Also, it is overwhelming to hear how this great artist could make an orchestra sound as if he was playing everything himself...
Frankly, I'm not joking, it is one of the absolute best recordings I have ever heard (so far). Released on CD in Japan, contact me for more information on this delicate subject.

[kishnevi]

Thanks.  I have one subset of Dorati...covering the ones numbered 40/50 and thereabout...I would have to go dig it out for particulars.   I suspect overall he is about the same level as Davies and Fischer, although of the three I probably prefer Davies.

Interesting that Harry has about the same opinion of Hogwood as you, rather a minority opinion.  I like him in Haydn.   But I also like most of the other contenders....a plethora of riches.

[Todd]

I suspect overall he is about the same level as Davies and Fischer, although of the three I probably prefer Davies.

I've never heard the whole set, and until a couple months ago, I had never heard any.  But then the local classical station played Dorati's #82.  Dorati easily bests both Davies and Fischer.  I am looking for the lowest cost way to get my hand on Doarti's cycle.

[Cosi bel do]

Don't mistake me : Hogwood has done very fine recordings, as you can see I've cited him a few times. But in a lot of the symphonies, the recording sounds like it was done in a hurry, without many rehearsals. The strings in particular lack phrasing and articulation, and they are even frankly bad at more than one moment. Take for instance symphony 8, the wide and reverberated acoustics are masking many imprecisions that I find quite unacceptable...
On the other hand, some of the symphonies are really very well played by the AAM & Hogwood.

Unfortunately, also, Hogwood's best recording is in symphonies 76-77, it was recorded by Decca but released by the BBC and not included in the box sets, which is a shame and not really easy to understand.

About Dorati, not all symphonies are excellent, but a few of them are, and in general the quality of his readings is very good. It is most of the time not far behind the favourites I mentioned...

[kishnevi]

I've never heard the whole set, and until a couple months ago, I had never heard any.  But then the local classical station played Dorati's #82.  Dorati easily bests both Davies and Fischer.  I am looking for the lowest cost way to get my hand on Doarti's cycle.

My Dorati set does not include 82; it is devoted to the middle symphonies, and I do not think he sounded remarkably superior there.

[Jo498]

Very interesting, I hope I will find time and opportunity to check some of your recommendations. I do not have all Goodman and Hogwood recorded and my complete Box is Fischer's, not Dorati's (have the LPs, but cannot play them atm), but about a half dozen of Goodman's and three 3-disc-boxes of Hogwood's plus 94/96.

I think I share your fondness for Harnoncourt in some of the early middle (like 30,31,53,69). I got rid of Weil's "Paris" a few years ago, which might have been a mistake, but then I preferred the different aspects of Harnoncourt's, Bernstein's, Fey's and Marriner's rather different approaches to Weil's rather straight and lean readings. Goodman is also very good in 82 (less so for me in 84 and 85, I do not have the 2nd disc).

Have you heard any of Solomons for the "Sturm and Drang"? Only a few are easily findable on CD, but 39, 45,48 and 49 may be and they are well worth it. It is very "lean and mean", but very energetic.

I think I found Hogwood o.k. in the strange 34, but have you heard Fey here? This may be one of the most convincing ones.

[EigenUser]

Jeffrey Smith invited me to share my experience of listening to all versions I own of all Haydn symphonies, in Hoboken order. I thought the Haydn Haus was not the appropriate subject and it would be more interesting to create a topic on Haydn symphonies, just as topics exist on his quartets and keybord sonatas.
Let's not forget, though, the other existing topics on favourite cycles, on the London symphonies sets, and on the =http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php?topic=10824.0Dorati set.

So, here is a place to discuss the discography of Haydn symphonies, whether you want to share your favourites, or ask for advice

Thanks for taking the time to do this! This is very interesting. I'm not sure why there's a picture of George Washington at the top of the page, though...

Most of my recordings are Fischer, but I'd like to try HIP sometime again.

[Marc]

Come join GMG to rewrite the history of music:

- Mozart was a fraud.
- Haydn was George Washington.

[Moonfish]

So, here is a place to discuss the discography of Haydn symphonies, whether you want to share your favourites, or ask for advice

Very interesting! Thanks for starting this thread Cosi! 

[Cosi bel do]

Very interesting, I hope I will find time and opportunity to check some of your recommendations. I do not have all Goodman and Hogwood recorded and my complete Box is Fischer's, not Dorati's (have the LPs, but cannot play them atm), but about a half dozen of Goodman's and three 3-disc-boxes of Hogwood's plus 94/96.

I think I share your fondness for Harnoncourt in some of the early middle (like 30,31,53,69). I got rid of Weil's "Paris" a few years ago, which might have been a mistake, but then I preferred the different aspects of Harnoncourt's, Bernstein's, Fey's and Marriner's rather different approaches to Weil's rather straight and lean readings. Goodman is also very good in 82 (less so for me in 84 and 85, I do not have the 2nd disc).

Have you heard any of Solomons for the "Sturm and Drang"? Only a few are easily findable on CD, but 39, 45,48 and 49 may be and they are well worth it. It is very "lean and mean", but very energetic.

I think I found Hogwood o.k. in the strange 34, but have you heard Fey here? This may be one of the most convincing ones.

- I haven't heard Solomons's recordings yet, it is very annoying they have not been available for such a long time. They are on my list (I will edit my previous post if things change after new listenings).
- I'm also aware I have to listen to Fey. His edition is half the way, so I'll wait for a complete set to be released before listening to it entirely, but I'll try a few symphonies soon and will listen to 34 then

[Jo498]

While this is mostly not based on recent listening, I will just list a few favorites in the symphonies where I remember them or have some older notes. I really should listen to more Haydn again (did a lot around 2009, but more recently not so much).

6. Harnoncourt, also Freiburger Barockorchester
7. Harnoncourt, also Freiburger Barockorchester 
8. Harnoncourt, also Freiburger Barockorchester 

21 Hogwood, Fischer
22. Hogwood, Orpheus CO
26. Solomons, Fischer
30. Harnoncourt
31. Harnoncourt, Hogwood
34. Fey
39. Solomons, Fischer
40. Fey
42. Pinnock
44. Pinnock
45. Solomons, Scherchen
46. Pinnock
47. Pinnock
48. Solomons
49. Solomons, Goltz & Freiburger Barockorchester
52. Pinnock
53. Harnoncourt
59. Solomons, Harnoncourt
60. Harnoncourt, Rattle
63. Orpheus CO

69. Harnoncourt
70. Goodman, Fey, Rattle/Birmingham
73. Harnoncourt
78. Goodman, Fischer
80. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Freiburger Barockorchester
81. Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
82. Goodman, Harnoncourt, Bernstein
83. Harnoncourt, Bernstein
84. Fey, Marriner
85. Fey, Harnoncourt, Marriner
86. Fey, Bernstein, Harnoncourt
87. Bernstein, Marriner
88. Furtwängler, Scherchen (extreme...), Fey
89. Dorati, Rattle/Berlin, Wolf
90. Dorati, Rattle/Berlin (have to re-listen to Brüggen's I found it too slow in the 1st movement)
91. Dorati, Wolf, Jacobs
92. Rosbaud, Jacobs, Fey
93. Dorati, Jochum/Dresden, Harnoncourt
94. Harnoncourt, Brüggen
95. Harnoncourt, Szell, Dorati
96. Hogwood, Harnoncourt, Wolf
97. Harnoncourt, Szell, Bernstein
98. Jochum/Dresden, Brüggen, Harnoncourt
99. Gielen, Brüggen
100. Harnoncourt
101. Brüggen, Harnoncourt
102. Klemperer, Brüggen
103. Brüggen (with different coda of finale), Harnoncourt, Kuijken
104. Gielen, Rosbaud, Brüggen, Kuijken
105. (Sinfonia Concertante) Kuijken, Rattle/Berlin

[Jo498]

- I haven't heard Solomons's recordings yet, it is very annoying they have not been available for such a long time. They are on my list (I will edit my previous post if things change after new listenings).
- I'm also aware I have to listen to Fey. His edition is half the way, so I'll wait for a complete set to be released before listening to it entirely, but I'll try a few symphonies soon and will listen to 34 then

This could take a while; some of Fey's are sometimes available cheaply that's basically how a acquired a half dozen or so.

Of Solomons' there were two 3-disc-boxes on CD, I think. I only have two single discs in a cheaper series with 26,39,45,48,59 which are all quite good, but I never found the boxes to prices I was willing to pay, so I'll be content with what I have. There is not really a lack of good recordings of the "Sturm and Drang". The "problem" are rather the first about 30 (except for the "Tageszeiten") and the 60s/70s numbers.

I do not know about the mores of this forum, but I think it is better to post a new message with additions than to edit the original posting. Otherwise reaction on the first message (like mine and your answer) will be very confusing to later readers.

[Karl Henning]

Don't mistake me : Hogwood has done very fine recordings, as you can see I've cited him a few times. But in a lot of the symphonies, the recording sounds like it was done in a hurry, without many rehearsals.

The mischief-maker in me wants to suggest that perhaps, in this way, he is recreating the original circumstances of the music's creation 

[aukhawk]

About Dorati, not all symphonies are excellent, but a few of them are, and in general the quality of his readings is very good. It is most of the time not far behind the favourites I mentioned...

BBC Building a Library did Haydn Symphony 44 last February (link to download page)
and Dorati was rather dismissed as "fondly remembered pioneering stuff but we have all moved on since then".

[Marc]

The mischief-maker in me wants to suggest that perhaps, in this way, he is recreating the original circumstances of the music's creation 

Well, around 2000, in the Netherlands I had some discussions with fans AND members of Leusink's Holland Boys Choir who defended the lousy (IMHO) recordings of Bach's cantatas by claiming that Bach's own performance circumstances were lousy too and that he complained about the quality of his choristers, so: Leusink's performances were truly HIP and authentic.

But I don't think that's what Hogwood had in mind.
I only know his BBC disc (nos 76 & 77) and I think it's a fine recording, but I'm not really a Haydn-connoisseur and my collection is very modest. From the discs I have I like Brüggen and Kuijken for HIP/PI, and Colin Davis for non-HIP/PI.

[Karl Henning]

Indeed, one always wants to do the music justice, rather than honoring any imperfections of an initial performance.

I have not yet listened to all of the Hogwood set, but I have found nothing to complain of at press time.

The DRD box, too, has been excellent in all that I have as yet heard from it.

[RebLem]

I have not embarked on a Haydn listening project yet, but I will give you some preliminary assessments.  I have 2 complete sets--the Dorati and the Davies.  I used to have the Maerzendorfer set on MHS LP's, but that's long gone.  Of the three, the Dorati is infinitely preferable.  The Davies is pretty routine; the last disc containing 103 and 104 is the only one that stands head and shoulders above the rest.  If its every issued as a separate, you should get it, but don't bother with the set.  Maerzendorfer was pretty  good, but he played most of the trios in unaccountably slow tempos.  I have listened to some partial sets and I have three sets of the London Symphonies I have yet to listen to--in alphabetical order, Kuijken, Minkowski, and Solti.  The London sets I have listened to are those by Colin Davis, Harnoncourt, and Jochum.  I also have and have listened to partial sets by Klemperer and Szell.  I also have lots of single discs, some of which are by the same conductor--partial sets, in other words, both in and out of the London sets.  These include a few Fischers, Thomas Fey, Weill, Hogwood.  I also have and have listened to the Kuijken set of 25, 52, 53, and 82-92.

I will say unhesitatingly that my favorite set is that by Kuijken.  If the set of the London symphonies is anything like the set of pre-Londons I have listened to--and he seems to be a pretty consistent conductor--I will have to say he is head and shoulders above all the others I have listened to, at least. 

[Cosi bel do]

The mischief-maker in me wants to suggest that perhaps, in this way, he is recreating the original circumstances of the music's creation 

BBC Building a Library did Haydn Symphony 44 last February (link to download page)
and Dorati was rather dismissed as "fondly remembered pioneering stuff but we have all moved on since then".

Well, I'm not far to agree with them. That's why Dorati is almost never among the best versions for each symphony, but he usually remains a solid choice, and charming, I would say. Then of course some of his recordings are better than others too, even the acoustics are sometimes excellent and some others below par.

Well, around 2000, in the Netherlands I had some discussions with fans AND members of Leusink's Holland Boys Choir who defended the lousy (IMHO) recordings of Bach's cantatas by claiming that Bach's own performance circumstances were lousy too and that he complained about the quality of his choristers, so: Leusink's performances were truly HIP and authentic.

Well of course that's just stupid, and I also wouldn't compare Hogwood's work to such persons.

This could take a while; some of Fey's are sometimes available cheaply that's basically how a acquired a half dozen or so.

That's what I had in mind, yes.

Of Solomons' there were two 3-disc-boxes on CD, I think. I only have two single discs in a cheaper series with 26,39,45,48,59 which are all quite good, but I never found the boxes to prices I was willing to pay, so I'll be content with what I have. There is not really a lack of good recordings of the "Sturm and Drang". The "problem" are rather the first about 30 (except for the "Tageszeiten") and the 60s/70s numbers.

I agree with you about this problem. Also, I don't know why, but symphony 81, which is truly admirable, is very rare on record.
About Solomons, I am thinking about finding the boxes released around 1990, I prefer to own them all

I do not know about the mores of this forum, but I think it is better to post a new message with additions than to edit the original posting. Otherwise reaction on the first message (like mine and your answer) will be very confusing to later readers.

Well, I'll not edit completely my first list, and try to make it clear if I radically change something in it.

[Cosi bel do]

I have not embarked on a Haydn listening project yet, but I will give you some preliminary assessments.  I have 2 complete sets--the Dorati and the Davies.  I used to have the Maerzendorfer set on MHS LP's, but that's long gone.  Of the three, the Dorati is infinitely preferable.  The Davies is pretty routine; the last disc containing 103 and 104 is the only one that stands head and shoulders above the rest.  If its every issued as a separate, you should get it, but don't bother with the set.  Maerzendorfer was pretty  good, but he played most of the trios in unaccountably slow tempos.  I have listened to some partial sets and I have three sets of the London Symphonies I have yet to listen to--in alphabetical order, Kuijken, Minkowski, and Solti.  The London sets I have listened to are those by Colin Davis, Harnoncourt, and Jochum.  I also have and have listened to partial sets by Klemperer and Szell.  I also have lots of single discs, some of which are by the same conductor--partial sets, in other words, both in and out of the London sets.  These include a few Fischers, Thomas Fey, Weill, Hogwood.  I also have and have listened to the Kuijken set of 25, 52, 53, and 82-92.

I will say unhesitatingly that my favorite set is that by Kuijken.  If the set of the London symphonies is anything like the set of pre-Londons I have listened to--and he seems to be a pretty consistent conductor--I will have to say he is head and shoulders above all the others I have listened to, at least.

Kuijken's London Symphonies are something I really plan to find, despite the high price. I've always been fond of his Paris symphonies. The only issue I have with these recordings when comparing them to others is the sound, with a certain lack of detail, and limited dynamics. Also, taking symphonies one by one, of course other, other recent HIP versions have sometimes done better, for a number of reasons.
Also, I generally found Kuijken's recordings on Virgin were better with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment than with La Petite Bande. But I have already heard the two last symphonies with La Petite Bande on DHM, and in my memory these are excellent performances, with excellent sound quality.