Haydn's Haus

[Valentino]

I had never heard about Nomos Quartett before, but what they do in op. 51 sounds right to me (the way jpc presents it). Thanks folks, I'm buying.

[alkan]

Based on almost universal acclaim for the 6 CD box of Haydn S&D symphonies from Pinnock, I bought a copy.     Whilst there are many things to admire and enjoy, I have to say that I am somewhat underwhelmed by some of the performances.     
One of the main reasons is the harpsichord continuo in the fast movements.    I really find it a distracting noise.     

A good example is the first movement of the "Farewell" symphony.     Pinnock hammers away like a maniac ....da, da, da da, da, da, da da.....    It's like trying to listen to the music with the next door neighbour banging on the wall !!        Compare this to Solomons, whose performance is not only much more lively and agressive, but the lines are crystal-clear, especially the amazing dissonances on the horns.    I hope that one day Sony will reissue these magnificent recordings.     

[Lethevich]

I also have issues with Pinnock's Haydn, although not for the continuo (Goodman's is even louder) - it  just feels somewhat mechanical and cookie-cutter. Very admirable performances, but I cannot emotionally engage with them. It's still a quality set, though...

[Coopmv]

Based on almost universal acclaim for the 6 CD box of Haydn S&D symphonies from Pinnock, I bought a copy.     Whilst there are many things to admire and enjoy, I have to say that I am somewhat underwhelmed by some of the performances.     
One of the main reasons is the harpsichord continuo in the fast movements.    I really find it a distracting noise.     

I have the set.  I find the performance is disciplined but lacks the flair that is always so obvious when the Pinnock and the English Concerts perform works of Bach or Handel ...

[alkan]

Out of curiosity, what are your preferences for these symphonies ??
Thx ... Alkan

[Daverz]

I never found the continuo bothersome in the Pinnock set.  Perhaps I was influenced by the quality of the sound and playing, but I've been very happy with this box.  I'll have to pick up some of the Solomon Lps.  Checking Amazon, I see that some are on CD, including 45, and are available used, while 35, 45, and 59 are available on an import CD.

[jwinter]

I had the same issues with the continuo in some of the Mackerras Mozart symphony set -- it drove me nuts.  I guess it's because I was raised with Szell, Bohm et al, but continuo in classical style music is just not my cuppa tea (as opposed to baroque music -- it sounds fine to me in Bach or Vivaldi...) 

[alkan]

I just found this on Amazon(US) !!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0019H9W7U/sr=8-6/qid=1234794899/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music&qid=1234794899&sr=8-6

Daverz, I can REALLY recommend this disc ...... the preformances of 39 and 45 are incredible  (and both of these symphonies are masterpieces)

[Daverz]

I had the same issues with the continuo in some of the Mackerras Mozart symphony set -- it drove me nuts.  I guess it's because I was raised with Szell, Bohm et al, but continuo in classical style music is just not my cuppa tea (as opposed to baroque music -- it sounds fine to me in Bach or Vivaldi...) 

I sometimes dislike it in string music, where, to paraphrase Nielsen's line about the harp, it's like a fly in your soup.

[Lethevich]

Out of curiosity, what are your preferences for these symphonies ??
Thx ... Alkan

Due to the infrequent recording of the S&D symphonies, there isn't as much choice as I would like (Kuijken for example has not recorded them), which is why I still consider Pinnock a good recommendation and I am happy to own the set.

Goodman/Hyperion A stylistic opposite of Pinnock, rough and ready, sometimes slightly ragged, continuo which at times sounds like a harpsichord concerto, something of a devil-may-care attitude, but not abandoning lyricism - all in all, a lot of fun but something to try before you buy (an revealing comparison with Pinnock may be in No.44).

I heard Hogwood a long time ago, but don't own them due to being OOP, and was very impressed at his usual mix of total immersion in the musicmaking and an attention to detail without damaging the spontinaity with any sense of slickness.

I heard Brüggen for the first time a week or two ago and have yet to decide how I feel about them. I found the conducting a little loose and with focus on some individual effects, perhaps at the cost of the long-line (which in a Haydn symphony is pretty bad, given how short they are anyway). I am very likely to revise this opinion the more I hear them, though.

I wish there were more sets of the S&D symphonies recorded, as their interest is equal to the Paris and London sets due to their relative neglect...

[Daverz]

I just found this on Amazon(US) !!!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/images/B0019H9W7U/sr=8-6/qid=1234794899/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=5174&s=music&qid=1234794899&sr=8-6

Daverz, I can REALLY recommend this disc ...... the preformances of 39 and 45 are incredible  (and both of these symphonies are masterpieces)

Also available from JPC.

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Joseph%20Haydn%3A%20Symphonien%20Nr.%2039%2C%2045%2C%2059/hnum/9399509

And Archivmusic has issued them as ArchivCDs, though you may be able to pick them up used for less if you're patient.

Edit: the ArchivCDs are from a Japanese issue.

[alkan]

Also available from JPC.

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Joseph%20Haydn%3A%20Symphonien%20Nr.%2039%2C%2045%2C%2059/hnum/9399509

And it looks like you can listen to extracts ..... unfortunately it probably won't go as far as the development section in the 1st mvmt of No 45 where the two horns are terrific .....       

[alkan]

Due to the infrequent recording of the S&D symphonies, there isn't as much choice as I would like (Kuijken for example has not recorded them), which is why I still consider Pinnock a good recommendation and I am happy to own the set.

Goodman/Hyperion A stylistic opposite of Pinnock, rough and ready, sometimes slightly ragged, continuo which at times sounds like a harpsichord concerto, something of a devil-may-care attitude, but not abandoning lyricism - all in all, a lot of fun but something to try before you buy (an revealing comparison with Pinnock may be in No.44).

I heard Hogwood a long time ago, but don't own them due to being OOP, and was very impressed at his usual mix of total immersion in the musicmaking and an attention to detail without damaging the spontinaity with any sense of slickness.

I heard Brüggen for the first time a week or two ago and have yet to decide how I feel about them. I found the conducting a little loose and with focus on some individual effects, perhaps at the cost of the long-line (which in a Haydn symphony is pretty bad, given how short they are anyway). I am very likely to revise this opinion the more I hear them, though.

I wish there were more sets of the S&D symphonies recorded, as their interest is equal to the Paris and London sets due to their relative neglect...

Yes, Kuijken is my favourite, both for the Paris and London symphonies.      Wonderful performances.     A pity that he din't record the S&D series ....

[Coopmv]

Out of curiosity, what are your preferences for these symphonies ??
Thx ... Alkan

I actually prefer the modern instrument performance by Adam Fischer and the Austro-Hungarian Orchestra.  I have the entire sets of symphonies that came in 6 or 8 sets.  I do not recall the exact number of sets as I bought them over 2 or 3 years ago.  I have often been a skeptic when period instruments are extended to beyond the baroque music ...

[Josquin des Prez]

Yes, Kuijken is my favourite, both for the Paris and London symphonies.

Have you heard Harnoncourt's paris set?

[Coopmv]

Have you heard Harnoncourt's paris set?

I actually have never heard of any Haydn symphonies conducted by Harnoncourt on CD (I may have some recordings on LP).  Given the excellent performance he gave for the Schubert symphonies he conducted with the RCO, I would imagine Harnoncourt should be capable of giving another stellar performance here.  While Haydn and Schubert were from different eras, they both belonged to the Viennese school ...

[Que]

I actually have never heard of any Haydn symphonies conducted by Harnoncourt on CD (I may have some recordings on LP).  Given the excellent performance he gave for the Schubert symphonies he conducted with the RCO, I would imagine Harnoncourt should be capable of giving another stellar performance here.  While Haydn and Schubert were from different eras, they both belonged to the Viennese school ...

Harnoncourt's Haydn is superb. Can't go wrong with the cheap reissue of his earlier recordings (Warner/Teldec), and the new(ish) set with Paris symphonies (DHM) is great as well.

 

Q

[Coopmv]

Harnoncourt's Haydn is superb. Can't go wrong with the cheap reissue of his earlier recordings (Warner/Teldec), and the new(ish) set with Paris symphonies (DHM) is great as well.

 

Q

These sets were performed by the Concentus Musicus of Vienna instead of the full-sized orchestra, the RCO Harnoncourt conducted for the Schubert Symphonies.  I have always looked at Haydn as a transition figure from baroque to classical and wondered if his symphonies should be performed by a small ensemble instead of a full-sized orchestra ...

[Que]

These sets were performed by the Concentus Musicus of Vienna instead of the full-sized orchestra, the RCO Harnoncourt conducted for the Schubert Symphonies.  I have always looked at Haydn as a transition figure from baroque to classical and wondered if his symphonies should be performed by a small ensemble instead of a full-sized orchestra ...

Pardon me, but what on earth is a "full sized" orchestra? You mean the biggest sized orchestra?

An orchestra should have the size and composition necessary for the music at hand IMO.
Anyway, I would encourage you to satisfy your curiosity!

Q

[Coopmv]

Pardon me, but what on earth is a "full sized" orchestra? You mean the biggest sized orchestra?

An orchestra should have the size and composition necessary for the music at hand IMO.
Anyway, I would encourage you to satisfy your curiosity!

Q

Concentus Musicus or the Academy of Ancient Music does not have the same number of members as the BPO and RCO.  It is plain and simple.  You can call an SUV a car but it is not a car in my book.