Haydn symphonies

[Gurn Blanston]

As a complete set of the symphonies I have only the Adam Fischer set. For the late symphonies I have the Brüggen set. Brüggen ist quite good. I have also Karajan with the Paris und London symphonies, this is enjoyable, but lacks charme. But what I really like are the perfomances of the "La petite band" which I enjoyed very much, but they have performed only a few of the late symphonies.

For the symphonies themselves: I listen mostly to the late one, the Paris and the London. I tried some of the earlier ones in the Adam Fischer set, but was very often disappointed. There are of course some of the earlier symphonies who are rigthtly famous, for example the Farewell symphony.

Complete sets of any composer are usually a disappointment; there may be the best recording ever of a few woks, and then, the worst ever of some others. Or else they are all bland.

La Petite Bande have done everything after the Paris symphonies, which is to say, 88-104, and very nicely. Perhaps you missed some here and there?  They have done only a few of the middle and early ones, that is true.

If you want a new set of Paris symphonies that really will make you enjoy them, I recommend the Harnoncourt. IMO, it is the best set of Paris symphonies recorded. 

[Jo498]

Fey is still out of action, but Haenssler offers now both a dirt cheap budget box with 10 (recent) discs from the series as well as a twofer with recordings of 6-8 under Fey (apparently the last he did before his accident?) and 35,36,51 where the ensemble is led by its concert master Benjamin Spillner.
(I just read elsewhere that the consequences of Fey's injury are apparently so grave that he will very probably never conduct again. But note that this is not official and unconfirmed information.)


https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/joseph-haydn-symphonien-nr-6-8-35-46-51/hnum/5645199

https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/joseph-haydn-thomas-fey-dirigiert-haydn-symphonien/hnum/5748207

[Sergeant Rock]

Fey is still out of action, but Haenssler offers now...a twofer with recordings of 6-8 under Fey (apparently the last he did before his accident?) and 35,36,51 where the ensemble is led by its concert master Benjamin Spillner.

Thanks for pointing this out. Ordered.

Sarge

[Karl Henning]

(I just read elsewhere that the consequences of Fey's injury are apparently so grave that he will very probably never conduct again. But note that this is not official and unconfirmed information.)

Heavy news.

[mc ukrneal]

Heavy news.

Indeed. He is too young. Let's hope the unofficial reports are wrong, but then even if he can return, it seems too serious not to have affected him. Very upsetting news.

[André]

Great set. Haydn's symphonies (well, a handful of them) here placed in context in terms of their competition in Paris, ca. 1780-89.



This 7 cd set sometimes appears quite cheaply. Worth wait the time spent for checking the right occasion. Warmly recommended, both as Haydn performances per se and as a musicological conspectus of its era.

[Parsifal]

(I just read elsewhere that the consequences of Fey's injury are apparently so grave that he will very probably never conduct again. But note that this is not official and unconfirmed information.)

Given that he has been out of action since 2014, now, not a surprise. A personal tragedy and a loss to the world of music.