Haydn's Haus

[Gurn Blanston]

The Creation has benefited from not a few PI recordings, I count at least five (maybe seven) others besides the McCreesh, and that's just what's on MOG:

Jacobs
Kuijken
Hickox
Gardiner
Weil
Hengelbrock (?)

And I think Martin Pearlman with the Boston Baroque is PI, but I could be wrong.

Jacobs and Kuijken are very good.  Hickox, Weil and Gardiner are probably good as well since they usually do good work but I have not heard these recordings.  Pearlman and Hengelbrock will be the ones I check out next since they are not familiar to me.

I've got Macreesh and Hogwood in English, and Kuijken, Spering, Jacobs, Harnoncourt & Gardiner in German. Ones that I've seen but not snapped up yet for various reasons (unrelated to their appeal) are Christie & Pearlman. I like Pearlman in some Bach, Handel, and also Mozart's Requiem (Levin completion). Boston Baroque are some fine players, and you aren't wrong, they are totally PI.

In truth, I've never heard of Hengelbrock....

[Wakefield]

In looking around for those Manfred Huss discs I stumbled upon a series of piano concertos:

Haydn: Complete Piano Concertos (in three volumes)
Massimo Palumbo; Ernst Theis/Vienna Austrian Chamber Orchestra (Das Österreichische Kammerorchester)

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The playing and sound fooled me at first, I thought it was PI, and the playing is definitely HIP, but in doing more searching, the orchestra while a 18th century ensemble in focus plays modern instruments. The keyboard I thought might be a fortepiano since Palumbo has used one on occasion, but the credits on allmusic.com show him on piano.  His playing is stylistically right in the pocket for this period, though, and it is nice to have all the works.

Yes, Palumbo sometimes plays the "pianoforte", but it's just because he is Italian. 

[Wakefield]

In truth, I've never heard of Hengelbrock....

Then your wishlist needs an addition, Gurn.

Spering (on Naxos) is also exceptional. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Then your wishlist needs an addition, Gurn.

Spering (on Naxos) is also exceptional. 

Yeah, I went ahead and looked it up and bought it already. I think I'll have a go at the Pearlman too. I'm needing to restrict my profligacy this month due to acquiring the Robbins-Landon book set. Temperance in all things; that's my motto. 0:)   

[Wakefield]

He recorded these, Ferdinando Carulli: Complete Works for Guitar & Fortepiano, which is why I thought he might be using that instrument on these recordings.  But his piano merely sounds like it could be one at times.

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I didn't recall that Palumbo was the fortepianist in that Carulli. I heard it one time when I bought the set several years ago, but clearly  I need a new listen... Thanks for the reminder. 

BTW, I found this on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/v/K_OeESV2GgQ

[Leo K.]

Yeah, I went ahead and looked it up and bought it already. I think I'll have a go at the Pearlman too. I'm needing to restrict my profligacy this month due to acquiring the Robbins-Landon book set. Temperance in all things; that's my motto. 0:)   

Gurn, congrats on the Robbins-Landon book set. That is a set I've been keeping an eye on for years, someday I'll get it! I guess I should finish my recent batch of music books for the time being

[Gurn Blanston]

Gurn, congrats on the Robbins-Landon book set. That is a set I've been keeping an eye on for years, someday I'll get it! I guess I should finish my recent batch of music books for the time being

Thanks, Leo, you know how much I've wanted that. It was misposted on AMP, as being only Vol. 1, and thus at a fairly high price for 1 book. Then in small letters at the bottom it said "this is the entire set of 5 volumes..."   I was delighted, for sure!

I'm looking to sell my now extra Vol 3 at a good price; check it out in Buy/Sell/Trade! 

[Karl Henning]

That performance led by Lenny is included in this economy pack:

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That box has really done you well, eh, Karl? Not surprised that his 'Creation' is fine; seems like he does a better than most job on the more spiritual stuff in general.

As with the reissue of his NY Phil set of the Sibelius symphonies, Gurn, this "Papa"-pak has many an upside which may surprise a body!

[Florestan]

The Seven Last Words of Christ on The Cross (choral version)

I contemplate this as an impending purchase. Any objections? 

[Gurn Blanston]

The Seven Last Words of Christ on The Cross (choral version)

I contemplate this as an impending purchase. Any objections? 

I would only buy it if I was looking for the best version available. Otherwise, well, any other would do. 0:)  For you, amigo, it is the only real choice, IMO. 



PS - Of course, one BIG objection is that it is only the orchestral version, not choral...

[Gurn Blanston]

Here is your choral version:



or else this one:

[Florestan]

I would only buy it if I was looking for the best version available. Otherwise, well, any other would do. 0:)  For you, amigo, it is the only real choice, IMO. 

I contemplate this as an impending purchase. Will definitely buy next week

PS - Of course, one BIG objection is that it is only the orchestral version, not choral...

How come? On the back cover it reads something like "original choral version"... or was I blind yesterday when having it in my hands?  OTOH now that I think about it had it been choral it would have had the Capella Reial of Catalunya on the cover too, besides Le Concert des Nations.

I'll buy anyway. 

[Gurn Blanston]

I contemplate this as an impending purchase. Will definitely buy next week

How come? On the back cover it reads something like "original choral version"... or was I blind yesterday when having it in my hands?  OTOH now that I think about it had it been choral it would have had the Capella Reial of Catalunya on the cover too, besides Le Concert des Nations.

I'll buy anyway. 

Yes, the singing is so inaudible as to be non-existent.    

It's a thing of beauty, and Alia Vox paid attention to detail in the packaging too. I only have one other orchestral version, the Brüggen one, and as good as it is, it simply can't match the Savall. You will be pleased, I'm sure.

[Florestan]

Yes, the singing is so inaudible as to be non-existent.    

It's a thing of beauty, and Alia Vox paid attention to detail in the packaging too. I only have one other orchestral version, the Brüggen one, and as good as it is, it simply can't match the Savall. You will be pleased, I'm sure.

Aha! 

Thank you, Gurn, you were most helpful, as usual. 

[Gurn Blanston]

How come? On the back cover it reads something like "original choral version"... or was I blind yesterday when having it in my hands?  OTOH now that I think about it had it been choral it would have had the Capella Reial of Catalunya on the cover too, besides Le Concert des Nations.

Well, the choral version is NOT the original. The orchestral version dates back to 1786, when it was composed on commission from Spain. The oratorio (choral) version was done exactly 10 years later, after Haydn returned from England. He heard that someone had set words to it, listened to it and didn't like it, so he had Von Sweiten to organize a libretto and did it himself. He added a few little things, like an introductory march, and the entire became wildly popular all over again. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Aha! 

Thank you, Gurn, you were most helpful, as usual. 

My pleasure, as always.   0:)

[Florestan]

Well, the choral version is NOT the original. The orchestral version dates back to 1786, when it was composed on commission from Spain. The oratorio (choral) version was done exactly 10 years later, after Haydn returned from England. He heard that someone had set words to it, listened to it and didn't like it, so he had Von Sweiten to organize a libretto and did it himself. He added a few little things, like an introductory march, and the entire became wildly popular all over again. 

Very helpful. Now I remember: the back cover reads "original orchestral version".

Do the choral version add anything of import to the orchestral one?

[Wakefield]

It's a thing of beauty, and Alia Vox paid attention to detail in the packaging too. I only have one other orchestral version, the Brüggen one, and as good as it is, it simply can't match the Savall. You will be pleased, I'm sure.

Here is your choral version:



or else this one:

It's curious, both the orchestral and the choral version have a version clearly superior to the remaining. Laurence Equilbey and her gang are excellent, but maybe excessively idiosyncratic compared to Harnoncourt. 

[Florestan]

Do the choral version add anything of import to the orchestral one?

It should of course read "does". No wonder I have scored less than I expected in my exam for certified English-Romanian translator just 1 week ago. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Very helpful. Now I remember: the back cover reads "original orchestral version".

Do the choral version add anything of import to the orchestral one?

Singing.

No, seriously, singing does make a difference. It entirely depends on your taste; either you like singing a lot or not so much. The underlying orchestral work is unchanged. In some cases the addition of a libretto is a negative effect on the music. In this case it does not. I am torn, I have always preferred instrumental music. However, this choral version is awfully good. IIRC, you are one who likes singing....