Haydn's Haus

[Florestan]

Gurn, please, make Haydn's blog sticky. 

[Sergeant Rock]

Brian linked the Naxos Library site that has this Fey disc, that is if you don't want to wait to hear it.

Don't you have to be a subscriber to listen?

Sarge

[Brian]

Don't you have to be a subscriber to listen?

Sarge

Yes.

[Wakefield]

Not particularly, although any stab at Haydn's music is better than none. I would have preferred the last complete cycle to be at least on period instruments. Hogwood, Goodman, Solomons, Freiburg Baroque,...... Concerto Köln!!!!!. But not just another modern instrument cycle by a conductor I never even heard of before this. It's impertinent. 

"[...] by a conductor I never even heard of [...]". Really, Gurn? Has this any importance at all? 

Recently, I listened to the first four discs of this set ("Early Symphonies"), chronologically ordered to include all the pre-Esterhazy (Eisenstadt) symphonies.

I thought those four discs include some great performances, especially because of the great violin playing, a mix between the traditional non-facist discipline of the Sttutgarters and a great concertmaster as Benjamin Hudson. Additionally, I liked the excellent balance between strings and winds.

Tempi are generally well judged, although the approach is less on the radical side than Fey's, avoiding extreme contrasts. 

I hope to continue soon this exploration.

[Gurn Blanston]

"[...] by a conductor I never even heard of [...]". Really, Gurn? Has this any importance at all? 

Recently, I listened to the first four discs of this set ("Early Symphonies"), chronologically ordered to include all the pre-Esterhazy (Eisenstadt) symphonies.

I thought those four discs include some great performances, especially because of the great violin playing, a mix between the traditional non-facist discipline of the Sttutgarters and a great concertmaster as Benjamin Hudson. Additionally, I liked the excellent balance between strings and winds.

Tempi are generally well judged, although the approach is less on the radical side than Fey's, avoiding extreme contrasts. 

I hope to continue soon this exploration.

It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. I really have no interest in yet another modern instrument cycle. And despite that I have only heard 1 disk from it, which was quite good, the box itself has been savaged by Haydnists elsewhere, which rather predisposed me to not care to invest in it anyway. I mean, practically speaking, Gordon, how many Haydn symphonies do I need? I have at least 3 or 4 of each one, 10 or 15 of others. Seriously, why invest $100 that can be better spent on books or something like that.

Now, if it WAS a PI version and well played, then $100 would be a bargain.

[Wakefield]

It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. I really have no interest in yet another modern instrument cycle. And despite that I have only heard 1 disk from it, which was quite good, the box itself has been savaged by Haydnists elsewhere, which rather predisposed me to not care to invest in it anyway. I mean, practically speaking, Gordon, how many Haydn symphonies do I need? I have at least 3 or 4 of each one, 10 or 15 of others. Seriously, why invest $100 that can be better spent on books or something like that.

Now, if it WAS a PI version and well played, then $100 would be a bargain.

Of course, but I think those arguments don't deprive me of expressing my opinion about this set, isn't it? 

BTW, surprisingly almost don't exist reliable reviews available online about this set, excepting some criticism about claps at the end of every symphonies, of course. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Of course, but I think those arguments don't deprive me of expressing my opinion about this set, isn't it? 

BTW, surprisingly almost don't exist reliable reviews available online about this set, excepting some criticism about claps at the end of every symphonies, of course. 

No, of course it doesn't. I wouldn't want to do that, and the fact that I express my own opinion doesn't mean that it has any priority over yours or anyone else's. Mine is based over what I would like to have seen, not what is.

In Yahoo groups there is a Haydn list (there are others out there too in Usenet). There was a discussion of the set when it came out. Issues included skipped repeats and that sort of thing, in addition to the applause of course. Those who liked it were lukewarm. Those who didn't were lukecool...

[mc ukrneal]

Seriously, why invest $100 that can be better spent on books or something like that.

Can be had for about $42 (incl shipping at importcds). Still would leave you $55 or so for books.

[Gurn Blanston]

Can be had for about $42 (incl shipping at importcds). Still would leave you $55 or so for books.

Point being I just don't need it. You multiple collecting guys! 

[Wakefield]

Those who liked it were lukewarm. Those who didn't were lukecool...

No surprise. This set occupies an uncomfortable position in the current stage: modern instruments and a kind of pre-HIP approach à la Dorati, but less fiery than Dorati in the fast movements. So these days its objective audience is probably quite elusive. 

[mc ukrneal]

Point being I just don't need it. You multiple collecting guys! 

Moi? Tempt you?!? Perish the thought! I just wanted you to have your facts straight. That's all! 

[kishnevi]

It's my opinion and I'm sticking to it. I really have no interest in yet another modern instrument cycle. And despite that I have only heard 1 disk from it, which was quite good, the box itself has been savaged by Haydnists elsewhere, which rather predisposed me to not care to invest in it anyway. I mean, practically speaking, Gordon, how many Haydn symphonies do I need? I have at least 3 or 4 of each one, 10 or 15 of others. Seriously, why invest $100 that can be better spent on books or something like that.

Now, if it WAS a PI version and well played, then $100 would be a bargain.

Neal, what box set are you referring to? 

I thought we were talking about Fey's series, which isn't complete and as far as I know,  is nowhere near being boxed.

If it is Fey we're talking about--or at least,  it's Fey I'm talking about--I held off initially  because of the price point and the fact that I knew nothing about the conductor or the orchestra.  I did find one CD in the local used CD store, and despite all the positive comments here at GMG about Fey's Haydn, I wasn't impressed by it: nothing wrong with it, but just another batch of Haydn symphonies played by a modern orchestra. 

If I'm going to add a set of Haydn to Mount To Be Listened To,  I need something more than that.

On other fronts,  I saw last night on Hyperion's website that they'll be releasing a CD of three piano concertos by Papa,  by the Violons du Roy assisted by Marc Andre Hamelin,  in April.  That's the same group that, among other things,  was used Tharaud on his CD of Bach concertos on Harmonia Mundi.

[Gurn Blanston]

Neal, what box set are you referring to? 

I thought we were talking about Fey's series, which isn't complete and as far as I know,  is nowhere near being boxed.

If it is Fey we're talking about--or at least,  it's Fey I'm talking about--I held off initially  because of the price point and the fact that I knew nothing about the conductor or the orchestra.  I did find one CD in the local used CD store, and despite all the positive comments here at GMG about Fey's Haydn, I wasn't impressed by it: nothing wrong with it, but just another batch of Haydn symphonies played by a modern orchestra. 

If I'm going to add a set of Haydn to Mount To Be Listened To,  I need something more than that.

On other fronts,  I saw last night on Hyperion's website that they'll be releasing a CD of three piano concertos by Papa,  by the Violons du Roy assisted by Marc Andre Hamelin,  in April.  That's the same group that, among other things,  was used Tharaud on his CD of Bach concertos on Harmonia Mundi.

No, not Fey, Russell Davies (?) box on Sony.

[mc ukrneal]

No, not Fey, Russell Davies (?) box on Sony.

Yes - that one.

[Wakefield]

No, not Fey, Russell Davies (?) box on Sony.

Dennis Russell Davies & the Stuttgarter Kammerorchester

[Gurn Blanston]

No surprise. This set occupies an uncomfortable position in the current stage: modern instruments and a kind of pre-HIP approach à la Dorati, but less fiery than Dorati in the fast movements. So these days its objective audience is probably quite elusive. 

Yeah, getting hard to gather an audience for that approach nowadays with the polarization of listening habits. And if the niche is already filled by a classic set of performances (like Dorati is) then who do you go with? 

Sony owns the rights to Solomons' set, possibly the finest effort in the early works on period instruments. But is languishes in the vaults while they continue to release material that duplicates what's already out there. Surely I'm to be allowed to vent a little bit at them? 

[Gurn Blanston]

I am on Gurn's page.  I am not interested in another modern instrument cycle.  I have Fischer and Dorati as well as Szell's and Bernstein's selections.   I have all but two of the symphonies on PI instruments (I can't remember which ones, maybe 79 and 81), but since there is no complete box set, it requires assembling the works from various places.

Apparently it is too much to ask that there be at least one complete box set of all the symphonies on PI.

Yes, 79 & 81. Can you seriously believe that?   

[kishnevi]

Thanks for the clarifications.

I'm in no hurry to get Davies, either.  I've got Fischer, as part of Mount To Be Listened To, for one thing....

[TheGSMoeller]

Yes.

...and, slightly no.

There is a 15-minute preview that will allow you to sample a few things. Which I've done, that's enough time to get in a few movements. 

[Wakefield]

I am on Gurn's page.  I am not interested in another modern instrument cycle.  I have Fischer and Dorati as well as Szell's and Bernstein's selections.   I have all but two of the symphonies on PI instruments (I can't remember which ones, maybe 79 and 81), but since there is no complete box set, it requires assembling the works from various places.

Apparently it is too much to ask that there be at least one complete box set of all the symphonies on PI.

Just to be clear: I'm basically a fan of PI performances, but I'm also a sort of completist, so I have the complete Hogwood recordings (the original individual sets), all Goodman, all Pinnock, all Kuijken, all Harnoncourt, all Weil, some Salomons and Norrington's Londons. But I also have the entire Dorati, all Naxos discs, the Brilliant set, D.R. Davies, Harnoncourt, Bernstein and several single discs by different directors and orchestras playing on modern instruments.

That said, I think:

- Our habits as buyers o collectors are one thing: I just need one complete set (period o modern instruments, it's the same); or I don't need a complete set, just single recordings; or I just need PI recordings; or... I mean there is not a "side" on this issue, just personal habits or desires or whatever. There is not any rationality about this point, just personal preferences.

- On the other side, commenting merits o faults of a particular recording or a group of them is a different exercise and it shouldn't be seen as a sort of advertising of them.