I'm always amazed at reviews but more so at how much value people place in them. I agree that they can be a good starting point but you've got to do your own homework and find what appeals to YOUR ears. For example, too many people make far too much fuss over old conductors such as Beechum & Furtwängler. Good performances but ridiculously poor sound quality and good luck trying to acquire them, if you must. Funny though, some act as if nobody could ever conduct Haydn as well. I totally disagree. I have a recording of a nobody conductor named Hickox conducting the Collegium Musicum 90 doing Haydn's symphonies 103,95 & 104. These are awesome performances. Just listen to symphony 103 in this recording. However, the second vol.2 in this Hickox series doesn't do much for me. Case in point... most conductors have their moments. Which brings me back to Sir Colin Davis who does one of the best, if not the best symphony 104 interpretation I have ever heard. He really brings out the harmony parts in this piece. And since Haydn was a master at harmony I think it says a lot. Keep in mind, conductors such as Hogwood, Bruggen & Fischer do Haydn London's "Extremely Well". One warning though, stay far away from Dorati. He had no business conducting the great Haydn. Bottom line, do your homework and make your own decision. However, in my opinion you can't go wrong with Sir Colin Davis conducting the Concertbouw Orchestra in these 6 selected Haydn symphonies. They are "over all" - Very Good Performances, and I even prefer original instruments, ha-ha.
![DUO Philips [Brahms-Schubert]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41GQN0S89ML._AA60_.jpg)
![DUO Philips [11]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51hZe4KJrBL._AA60_.jpg)
