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Product details
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Track Listings
| Disc: 1 |
|---|
| 1. Symphony No 96 in D major 'The Miracle' |
| 2. Symphony No 95 in C minor |
| 3. Symphony No 93 in D major |
| Disc: 2 |
| 1. Symphony No 94 in G major 'The Surprise' |
| 2. Symphony No 98 in B flat minor |
| 3. Symphony No 97 in C major |
| Disc: 3 |
| 1. Symphony No 99 in E flat major |
| 2. Symphony No 100 in G major 'Military' |
| 3. Symphony No 101 in D major 'The Clock' |
| Disc: 4 |
| 1. Symphony No 102 in B flat major |
| 2. Symphony No 103 in E flat major 'Drumroll' |
| 3. Symphony No 104 in D major 'London' |
Product Description
Independent on Sunday, (Anna Picard), 18 July, 2010
(5 stars) Minkowski exploits every nuance of the London Symphonies...this is the finest period instruments ensemble in the world.
(4 stars) Minkowski and co celebrate Haydn's ever-astonishing originality in performances of brio and subtlety..."London" is the sets sublime apotheosis.
(4 stars) The performances have real warmth and generosity about them. They are full of musical wit too.
(4 stars) Minkowski and co celebrate Haydn's ever-astonishing originality in performances of brio and subtlety..."London" is the sets sublime apotheosis.
(4 stars) The performances have real warmth and generosity about them. They are full of musical wit too.
BBC Music Magazine, (Nicholas Anderson), August 2010
(4 stars) Variety, inventiveness, colour, urbanity and sheer joie de vivre of the 12 wonderful symphonies...these latest recordings are never dull.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
As live recordings these are very dramatic accounts of what these symphonies can sound like to imaginative ears and mind. Dynamic ranges are wide and swift tempi help to ensure Haydn's symphonic conceptions come across as being more volatile than dull, gray granite. Traditional accounts often place too much "subtlety" (instead of incisiveness) on the strings and lack colours and clarity in woodwind and especially brass /timpani sections. Minkowski's period instrument version does not disappoint in these departments beside packing plenty of fun in the playing. Those favouring a less dramatic approach and a more refined sound can get hold of Sigiwald Kuijken's complete recording without losing out on the benefits of hearing the music performed in (period) style.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:MP3 Download
These are characterful performances of the great London symphonies. The surprise in the surprise symphony is restored albeit somewhat tastelessly; the drumroll in the drumroll symphony is less of a roll and more of a frolic. But these are the only eccentricities in the set which is proving to be even more enjoyable than the wonderful Colin Davis set on Philips. Tempi are generally very brisk in the quick movements but the slow movements are taken gently and are shaped with elegance.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Finally a complete set of London Symphonies on period instruments that fully captures the ebullience of Haydn's wit, well recorded (live recordings but with very little audience noise and applauses removed) and consistently performed. These are not versions that linger but press ahead always keeping the music afloat generating as they go lots of gutsy sounds. I find that modern orchestral versions (e.g. Dorati, Davis) tend to smooth over the rough edges of this music too much. There is none of the striking timpani that one gets here.
I do however have TWO MAJOR RESERVATIONS that spoil an otherwise exhilarating set. The first is the scream in the slow movement of the `Surprise' symphony. I can understand that this novelty in a live performance might be an equivalent surprise tactic in today's terms as Haydn's (now tame seeming) strike was in his day. But do I really want to hear a scream every time I listen the symphony!? For the purposes of CD and the repeated listening that it implies, this novelty is extremely irritating and should have been edited out! My other reservation concerns the extended drum sequence in the `Drum-Roll' symphony, surely not the brevity of wit Haydn intended? Be that as it may, these hesitations are easily brushed aside given the consistent strength of the playing here. I certainly hope we will get a set of Paris Symphonies from these players. An absolute must!
I do however have TWO MAJOR RESERVATIONS that spoil an otherwise exhilarating set. The first is the scream in the slow movement of the `Surprise' symphony. I can understand that this novelty in a live performance might be an equivalent surprise tactic in today's terms as Haydn's (now tame seeming) strike was in his day. But do I really want to hear a scream every time I listen the symphony!? For the purposes of CD and the repeated listening that it implies, this novelty is extremely irritating and should have been edited out! My other reservation concerns the extended drum sequence in the `Drum-Roll' symphony, surely not the brevity of wit Haydn intended? Be that as it may, these hesitations are easily brushed aside given the consistent strength of the playing here. I certainly hope we will get a set of Paris Symphonies from these players. An absolute must!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Undoubtedly the finest period style set of the London Symphonies.
I don't think I can agree that this is the best of all sets of the Londons, as at least one reviewer here thinks. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Paul B
What more do you want?
A wonderful set. I have taken my review's title from the review that was titled "there's so much more to Haydn" because, well, it is something of a wonder to have a new set of... Read more
Published 6 months ago by enthusiast
Avoid
Since his atrocious recording of Bach's B minor Mass, it's been difficult to take Marc Minkowski seriously, and unfortunately this new release only adds fuel to the fire. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jan Hryniewicz
Haydn London Symphonies - Minkowski
The reviewer must declare himself an incurable Haydn addict of many years.
This well-priced set, all live performances, is well worth collecting, albeit with a couple of... Read more
This well-priced set, all live performances, is well worth collecting, albeit with a couple of... Read more
Published 16 months ago by MJH
There is so much more to Haydn.
This is probably the best of the "historically informed" recordings of the "London Symphonies" but it falls decidedly short of the best available recordings. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mr. R. Waud
Brilliant!
These recordings are brilliant - if you like Haydn buy them! - they are full of life and energy and you hear things in them that even if you know these symphonies well you might... Read more
Published 23 months ago by JPB
Really Quite Remarkable
In a crowded field, I've never heard more thrilling and more convincing performances. This is why period performance style has been so important.
Published on 2 April 2010 by Mr. N. Churchill
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