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HAYDN Complete Symphonies 1-104, 33CDs: Austro-Hungarian HaydnOrchestra/ Fischer (Brilliant Cl) PG***(R) ..first class full & warm..polish combined with sparkle..
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
This really is an extraordinary achievement from Adam Fischer and his hand-picked orchestra. The London Symphonies were recorded first and, as other reviewers have noted, there are greater interpretations available.
However, the first 80 symphonies are so brilliantly played that that should not put you off in any way. I own many versions of the symphonies, including the ground-breaking complete set from Antal Dorati (plus other versions from Davis, Pinnock, Kuijken and Harnoncourt) and this cycle is unsurpassed - and a terrific bargain to boot.
Fischer's interpretation brings the earlier symphonies to vivid life in a way that Dorati sadly doesn't. So buy this cycle, and perhaps Kuijken for the Paris symphonies (another bargain) and Davis for the London symphonies.
This is music enough for a lifetime!
However, the first 80 symphonies are so brilliantly played that that should not put you off in any way. I own many versions of the symphonies, including the ground-breaking complete set from Antal Dorati (plus other versions from Davis, Pinnock, Kuijken and Harnoncourt) and this cycle is unsurpassed - and a terrific bargain to boot.
Fischer's interpretation brings the earlier symphonies to vivid life in a way that Dorati sadly doesn't. So buy this cycle, and perhaps Kuijken for the Paris symphonies (another bargain) and Davis for the London symphonies.
This is music enough for a lifetime!
28 of 29 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
The only reason to lose one star is that there are better performances around of the London symphonies. The great triumph in this set is the brilliant and lively performances of the middle 75 symphonies.
That makes the set cost about a pound per symphony, which is a real bargain. However, you may want to transfer the discs from the card sleeves to proper jewel cases, which will add a bit to the cost.
Recording quality is good modern digital.
Anyone buying this box will not regret it. Many hours of enjoyment. This music is written to entertain and interest the listener, and it always does. There is not a single dud symphony by Haydn.
46 of 49 people found the following review helpful
I'm sure that this review won't make any difference - loads of people will buy this, because it's comprehensive and cheap - but there are reasons why you should go elsewhere. The most important point is that Fischer messes with Haydn's music in almost every symphony, by making certain passages solo strings only. (How do I know this? I'm a Haydn anorak, and I know all the symphonies off by heart. Not a bad thing to be.) Haydn did like the sound of solo strings, but he says when he wants them. They're all over the place here. That wouldn't matter so much, except that whilst the sound of the orchestra as a whole is fine - clean, with little vibrato - the solo strings are syrupy and sentimental. As a result, many of Haydn's most sublime moments are turned into salon music. This is a serious point: nobody would get away with doing this to Beethoven, so why accept 'Haydn with custard'?
Apart from this, the performances are not bad - symphonies 1-12 are best, with all repeats, whereas Fischer ignores second-half repeats in the later works. Dorati, surprisingly, is better repeats-wise.
If you are interested in buying Haydn in better performances, try Harnoncourt (various ones, including the last 12) or Hogwood (nearly all). Or above all, Bruggen really makes the music speak (he has recorded the 'Sturm und Drang', 'Paris' and 'London' sets), who also offers us the original version of the Finale of No. 103 ('Drumroll'), which is far better than the truncated Vienna version that everyone else plays. And don't touch Beecham, who makes cuts in what were already corrupt texts.
Apart from this, the performances are not bad - symphonies 1-12 are best, with all repeats, whereas Fischer ignores second-half repeats in the later works. Dorati, surprisingly, is better repeats-wise.
If you are interested in buying Haydn in better performances, try Harnoncourt (various ones, including the last 12) or Hogwood (nearly all). Or above all, Bruggen really makes the music speak (he has recorded the 'Sturm und Drang', 'Paris' and 'London' sets), who also offers us the original version of the Finale of No. 103 ('Drumroll'), which is far better than the truncated Vienna version that everyone else plays. And don't touch Beecham, who makes cuts in what were already corrupt texts.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Haydn is too diverse to be pigeon-holed at all!
I don't imagine the task of recording all of Haydn's extant symphonies to be an easy task; it must be a labour of love. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mr. N. R. Birkhead
5.0 out of 5 stars
Interpretations from fairly good to superb: a wonderful value set
In a way I am glad that the very best interpretations in this set are the later recordings and are of many little known symphonies - those in the 30's for example. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2007 by Colin Fortune
4.0 out of 5 stars
Every home should have one!
Over the years I have collected, and loved, a vast amount of different music, in many genres. Gradually, I've become convinced that for me, the pinnacle of all music - the very... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2007 by Tom Pitsis
5.0 out of 5 stars
a wonderful feast
The first set of Haydn symphonies recorded, as far as I know, was the Philharmonia Hungarica/Dorati Decca which justifiably won great praise. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2006 by Mr. Ian A. Macfarlane
5.0 out of 5 stars
Five stars for value
I largely agree with the foregoing review, except that at the price at which this set can be found it is worth the full five stars. Read more
Published on 7 Oct 2004
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