Haydn's Haus

[DavidW]

Boccherini. Still the Mountain for the cellist.   Beethoven was good to cellists too. Haydn brought them out of the dark of continuo though.

Oh yeah that guy!   I suppose with cello concertos, quintets and an octet he must like the instrument.

[Gurn Blanston]

Oh yeah that guy!   I suppose with cello concertos, quintets and an octet he must like the instrument.

It is said by one of his contemporaries that he could play the solo part any violin concerto on the cello at pitch! So yeah, I guess he liked the instrument.



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Now playing:
Das Wiener Philharmonia Trio - Hob 05 10 Divertimento á tre in F for 2 Violins & Bass 1st mvmt - Adagio cantabile

[TheGSMoeller]

I won't make a complete list only because I am still going through Mr. Haydn's SQ, Masses and Piano Sonatas, but I would put his symphonies from #22 to #53 on the top of the list. Not sure if that's entirely considered his Sturm und Drang period, but that specific area of symphonies is what initially grabbed my attention of Haydn's genius.

The Seven Last Words for SQ was my first Haydn love.  but now second to his symphonies.

The Creation is phenomenal.

I frequent his concertos often, mainly his Cello Concerto No. 1 in C, and Organ Concerto in C.

So far I've listened to SQ Op. 20, 33, 76 & 77 and have found myself smiling through all of them, they will move up the list soon, I can tell.

[karlhenning]

It is said by one of his contemporaries that he could play the solo part any violin concerto on the cello at pitch!

Impressive enough, even as we observe that violin concerti in his day were not what they are now : )

[DavidW]

Impressive enough, even as we observe that violin concerti in his day were not what they are now : )

Yeah they had a tonal center back then.

[Gurn Blanston]

Awesome, Gurn. It's always great to see someone passionate about a composer. You should see my Sibelius collection. Today, I bought 18th cycle of Sibelius's symphonies.

Thanks.

Damn, that's a bunch! Well, so far I have been going for breadth, in the sense that I have every piece of music that Haydn wrote which has been recorded. As far as depth goes, I have probably more symphony versions than anything else. Primarily that's because (as you know) I am a period instrument fan and some parts of Haydn's oeuvre are blessed with lots of versions. Like the Stürm und Dräng symphonies. But unlike composers like Sibelius (or Beethoven, Brahms, etc), it is pretty difficult to put together cycles of Haydn! I try though.



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Now playing:
Haydn Sinfonietta Wien / Huss - Hob 02 38 Scherzando #6 in A 4th mvmt - Finale: Presto

[Mirror Image]

Thanks.

Damn, that's a bunch! Well, so far I have been going for breadth, in the sense that I have every piece of music that Haydn wrote which has been recorded. As far as depth goes, I have probably more symphony versions than anything else. Primarily that's because (as you know) I am a period instrument fan and some parts of Haydn's oeuvre are blessed with lots of versions. Like the Stürm und Dräng symphonies. But unlike composers like Sibelius (or Beethoven, Brahms, etc), it is pretty difficult to put together cycles of Haydn! I try though.

Do you own Dorati's Haydn symphony set? This is the only complete symphony set I own of Haydn's symphonies. I've got a few sets of the London and Paris symphonies (Bernstein, Karajan, Abbado). I'd like to get Harnoncourt's Haydn recordings at some point. Do you own these, Gurn?

[Gurn Blanston]

Do you own Dorati's Haydn symphony set? This is the only complete symphony set I own of Haydn's symphonies. I've got a few sets of the London and Paris symphonies (Bernstein, Karajan, Abbado). I'd like to get Harnoncourt's Haydn recordings at some point. Do you own these, Gurn?

I have a few stray disks of Dorati, but not the set. I don't have a big taste for prehistoric recordings like lots of people do. I like his Paris set though. Of the others, I don't have any Abbado, and like Dorati, a few Bernstein (Vienna) and Karajan. If one wants to go the modern instrument route, there is a lot more out there, some of it very good, just not to my taste.

I do have the Harnoncourt symphonies and strongly recommend them (I'm talking about Concentus Musicus Wien here, not Concertgebouw, which are doubtless good, but see above).

As you can see, even restricting my collecting to only PI versions, I still have a real hard time finding a place for everything. I am afraid that if I were to expand beyond that, I would have to sell all my Koechlin recordings to make room.    

[karlhenning]

I so much disliked HvK's Mozart symphonies, I don't think I should much care for him in Haydn.

[Gurn Blanston]

I so much disliked HvK's Mozart symphonies, I don't think I should much care for him in Haydn.

If you were a bigger HvK fan than a Haydn fan, you would likely eat them up.

[DavidW]

I so much disliked HvK's Mozart symphonies, I don't think I should much care for him in Haydn.

Yes Karajan is lousy.  Bernstein is great though, his Paris symphonies are on par with Harnoncourt.

Edit: I speak of the NYPO recordings not the VPO.

[DieNacht]

Concerning Karajan/Mozart there is a lot of difference between the relatively late DG set and the earlier EMI. I found the EMI splendid, if rather Beethovenian, whereas the DG was uninteresting IMO ... He made an even earlier Mozart 40 on decca also.

Decided that my collection shouldn´t dominate the apartment too much and have split it up in many smaller sections, leaving a lot of space for furniture and books etc. in between in the various rooms. Unfortunately this means that it is not possible to place them alphabetically, but I keep a written register and am usually able to find the items - LPs constituting the major part as regards space.

[Roberto]

I have a few stray disks of Dorati, but not the set. I don't have a big taste for prehistoric recordings like lots of people do. I like his Paris set though. Of the others, I don't have any Abbado, and like Dorati, a few Bernstein (Vienna) and Karajan. If one wants to go the modern instrument route, there is a lot more out there, some of it very good, just not to my taste.

And what about Ádám Fischer's complete box? Months ago I added it to my wish list. (I considered Dorati too but I prefer HIP recording also. And after read some opinions about both I decided to add the Fischer's set.) But I've read an interview with Fischer and he said that he would like to throw out his first recordings with that orchestra. Because when he was younger he don't dare realize his own ideas. But apart from it this maybe a good complete set.

[DavidRoss]

I so much disliked HvK's Mozart symphonies, I don't think I should much care for him in Haydn.

Just yesterday I saw someone advertising a set of late Mozart symphonies conducted by von Karajan.  Uncomplimentary thoughts came to mind.  I wouldn't order a soufflé from a prison cafeteria cook.

[DieNacht]

Fischer/Haydn:
I find it an often very good and agreable set. As far as I remember, the mentioned first recordings were of the late symphonies in particular, and most people will have alternative versions anyway. The orchestra is not of the biggest size and I don´t have the Dorati, but the playing is quite varied, often lively and charming, but rarely impressively romantic. I mainly have Scherchen, Davis and Marriner alternative recordings and Fischer is a great contrast to them; it varies exactly what recording of the individual works that I prefer, of course. He can make some of the earliest symphonies into real gems. The Dorati has a duller sound, from what I hear/have heard, of course.

[DavidW]

And what about Ádám Fischer's complete box? Months ago I added it to my wish list. (I considered Dorati too but I prefer HIP recording also. And after read some opinions about both I decided to add the Fischer's set.) But I've read an interview with Fischer and he said that he would like to throw out his first recordings with that orchestra. Because when he was younger he don't dare realize his own ideas. But apart from it this maybe a good complete set.

It's on Gurn's top shelf... it's part of the Haydn edition.   I like it, but I have not heard the Dorati or the Davies.

[Vesteralen]

Would love to join a Haydn discussion like this, but I really don't have much knowledge of anything but the symphonies.  I'm currently on my second time through the complete set (Fischer/Nimbus) and am on 88-90 (listen to one disc just about every day for a week).

I have almost all the string quartets on vinyl (Aeolian/LST), but I have never listened to them yet.  I got them when the main branch of the library in my hometown was throwing out most of their vinyls several years ago.  Since it looked like most of them had been seldom, if ever, played, I figured the price ($0) was right.

But, since comments on the symphonies seem to be pretty much verboten here, I'll just say "adieu" to this thread till much later. 

[DavidW]

But, since comments on the symphonies seem to be pretty much verboten here, I'll just say "adieu" to this thread till much later. 

Post here Vesteralen!

[DavidW]

But, since comments on the symphonies seem to be pretty much verboten here, I'll just say "adieu" to this thread till much later. 

All Haydn discussion is welcome here!   But I have resurrected the symphony thread for you.

http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,11942.0.html

Enjoy.

[mc ukrneal]

Would love to join a Haydn discussion like this, but I really don't have much knowledge of anything but the symphonies.  I'm currently on my second time through the complete set (Fischer/Nimbus) and am on 88-90 (listen to one disc just about every day for a week).

I have almost all the string quartets on vinyl (Aeolian/LST), but I have never listened to them yet.  I got them when the main branch of the library in my hometown was throwing out most of their vinyls several years ago.  Since it looked like most of them had been seldom, if ever, played, I figured the price ($0) was right.

But, since comments on the symphonies seem to be pretty much verboten here, I'll just say "adieu" to this thread till much later. 

Nah - stay awhile. They let anyone into this thread! I mean, even a romantic like me!!

Seriously, would love to hear some of your thoughts as you listen to the Fischer (which I still haven't finished yet). There are always connections one misses and other associations that help understand what one is hearing. And if you state you really like certain symphonies, I can almost guarantee that someone will provide another Haydn piece that you will like (knowing you liked a certain number symphony), helping lead your exploration of the composer. 

And (wink, wink), we all know which room in the Haus is most interestng anyway (symphonies, cough, cough).