Haydn symphonies

[Karl Henning]

And, in their several ways, Weil and Lenny are great with "Papa."

[Sergeant Rock]

While I'm still listening to Fey's recordings, I've finished Harnoncourt's Paris symphonies. And they are simply extraordinary. Just a tad formal sometimes, but so beautiful you can't ever regret any moment of it. By far the best Paris symphonies I've heard. Precise order of the Paris sets would now be : 1. Harnoncourt / 2. Weil / 3. Bernstein / 4. Kuijken / 5. Brüggen / 6. Goodman & Karajan ex aequo / 8. Dorati.

My Paris ranking:

1-Fey
2-Bernstein
3-Harnoncourt
4-Weil

Sarge

[Cosi bel do]

And I see you haven't added Fey to the list anywhere! Interesting.

I need to give the Harnoncourt Paris another try, apparently; one listen to the Bear scared me back to Weil and Bernstein for the past year. Harnoncourt is very eccentric in that work.

I am currently listening to Fey, I'll add him after this if I feel it is "deserved". Don't worry I'll post my comments about him!

[Karl Henning]

My Paris ranking:

1-Fey
2-Bernstein
3-Harnoncourt
4-Weil

Sarge

Well, these symphonies, then, are quite well served!

[Sergeant Rock]

Well, these symphonies, then, are quite well served!

Indeed...and all four sets are great in their individual ways.

Sarge

[Jo498]

Fey is exciting, but sometimes crazy and irritating in his exaggerations and mannerisms. But I recall that I liked his Paris set a lot and probably more than several other of his recordings.

Harnoncourt is mannered as well, but the Paris set does sound so colorful and fresh that they do not bother me so much (unless I like the particular mannerisms anyway). Still, I probably would have preferred if he played somethings a little more straightforward (as he did, IMO, in the earlier 3-4 discs with the Concentus Musicus).

[jfdrex]

Just curious--any love here for HvK in the Paris and London symphonies?

If nothing else, some of the reviews on Amazon are hugely entertaining--they're all over the place, with certain listeners ready to die defending Fluffy to the last semiquaver, and others eager to light a bonfire and burn each and every one of those DG Haydn recordings:

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Did H. C. Robbins Landon really know what he was talking about when he praised HvK's Haydn?  Or (conspiracy theory alert ) was HCRL's purported praise of HvK's way with Papa Haydn just an elaborate hoax propagated by HvK's water-carriers? 

[Karl Henning]

Just curious--any love here for HvK in the Paris and London symphonies?

If nothing else, some of the reviews on Amazon are hugely entertaining--they're all over the place, with certain listeners ready to die defending Fluffy to the last semiquaver, and others eager to light a bonfire and burn each and every one of those DG Haydn recordings:

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[asin]B001DCQI9Q[/asin]

Did H. C. Robbins Landon really know what he was talking about when he praised HvK's Haydn?  Or (conspiracy theory alert ) was HCRL's purported praise of HvK's way with Papa Haydn just an elaborate hoax propagated by HvK's water-carriers? 

I cannot answer directly.  10 or 15 years ago I tried a disc of HvK conducting Mozart, hearing which nearly brought me to tears.

And not tears of joy ....

So, mine is not a genuine opinion; but in a footnote, indicate that I have no confidence

[Leo K.]

Just curious--any love here for HvK in the Paris and London symphonies?

If nothing else, some of the reviews on Amazon are hugely entertaining--they're all over the place, with certain listeners ready to die defending Fluffy to the last semiquaver, and others eager to light a bonfire and burn each and every one of those DG Haydn recordings:

[asin]B000001GNT[/asin]

[asin]B001DCQI9Q[/asin]

Did H. C. Robbins Landon really know what he was talking about when he praised HvK's Haydn?  Or (conspiracy theory alert ) was HCRL's purported praise of HvK's way with Papa Haydn just an elaborate hoax propagated by HvK's water-carriers? 

Huge fan of HVK's Haydn here! Actually a recent fan as I just acquired these two sets a few months ago.

[mc ukrneal]

Are these any good?

[Gurn Blanston]

Are these any good?

[Wakefield]

This Neal is such a joker! 

[mc ukrneal]

Err.Guys. Seriously. I have NO recordings from Bruggen. I don't really have an opinion about him. So are your comments: this is so good, he must be joking? Or is it, he's so bad, he must be joking? Forgive me if he's a legend, but I know none of his work.

[Wakefield]

Err.Guys. Seriously. I have NO recordings from Bruggen. I don't really have an opinion about him. So are your comments: this is so good, he must be joking? Or is it, he's so bad, he must be joking? Forgive me if he's a legend, but I know none of his work.

I have a great opinion about Brüggen's understanding of the Classical style, even better than my opinion about his Baroque recordings. That said, my knowledge of that set is just partial (limited to the London symphonies) because I recently ordered it from JPC. But his Mozart, his Haydn and his Beethoven have never disappointed me. However, as you probably know, Gurn and I are HIP nuts...   

[Gurn Blanston]

Err.Guys. Seriously. I have NO recordings from Bruggen. I don't really have an opinion about him. So are your comments: this is so good, he must be joking? Or is it, he's so bad, he must be joking? Forgive me if he's a legend, but I know none of his work.

This is so good, you must be joking. Back when Brüggen was still alive, that box (actually its earlier equivalent) was selling for upwards of $175 after it instantly went OOP. I still don't have it, I bought all the disks 'used' as singles or duos over a 2 year period. That the whole thing can be had for less than 30€ in most places is freaking ludicrous, and if anyone has an interest in PI/HIP recordings, they would be on the losing side to not snap it up before it again goes OOP and rises into the stratosphere.

Of course, one can pick and choose from dozens of other recordings and probably find superior versions for every one here, but why would you? 

[Daverz]

The only person I remember disliking Brüggen was Michael Schaffer (M Forever).  As far as I recall, Michael thought he was a phony.

[Gurn Blanston]

The only person I remember disliking Brüggen was Michael Schaffer (M Forever).  As far as I recall, Michael thought he was a phony.

I don't remember that, but not surprising. I think he can drag his tempos just a little from time to time, but that i just a personal preference, and I am a nasty niggler at heart. I wouldn't imagine not having all his Haydn! 

[Old Listener]

I don't remember that, but not surprising. I think he can drag his tempos just a little from time to time, but that i just a personal preference, and I am a nasty niggler at heart. I wouldn't imagine not having all his Haydn! 

If I had to pick a single set of  Paris symphonies, Bruggen's set would be it.  Of course, I'd want the  (different) performance of 86 on a single Philips CD coupled with 88.  Bruggen gets the style and humor just right in that perrformance.

[Jo498]

I am not through with Brüggen's set (but I had the London set before and liked most of it). Very roughly (and this is underselling his qualities) Brüggen is halfway between the lean, mean, straightforward style of Weil and Pinnock and the more nuanced, sometimes mannered readings of Harnoncourt.
Some tempi are comparably slow (I think he is too slow e.g. in the first movements of 90 and 93), there are also some tempo changes that can be irritating (finale of 98, the change is in the score, but Brüggen does it in an extreme fashion, some listeners love it) and the fortissimo tutti chord of the "surprise" comes early (which is probably a way to add a little extra surprise). Also the "middle symphonies" are not as "storm and stress"ful as with some other conductors, but the more nuanced approach also has many advantages.
For that price it is certainly worth it, even if you like only half of it.

[amw]

the fortissimo tutti chord of the "surprise" comes early (which is probably a way to add a little extra surprise).

If one must add a little extra surprise I'd almost prefer the Minkowski route to be honest.