Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra :: Haydn: Symphonies 68, 93-104 [Box Set]

Fine curiosity for collectors, but not a first choice

R. Lane | Tracy, CA USA | 08/27/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This set of the 12 London Symphonies by Haydn yields a great many pleasures. Harnoncourt, directing a conventional orchestra rather than his period instrument ensemble Concentus Musicus Wien, leads with imagination and vitality. No dull readings here. But when compared to the Colin Davis set made over ten years earlier with the same orchestra and available at a bargain price on two Philips Duo sets, Harnoncourt comes up on the short end in almost every movement. Philips was well justified in selecting some of the Davis set for their Philips 50 anniversary series of "classics" (Haydn: 6 "London" Symphonies). Davis truly works some magic in these symphonies, as do many others (Beecham for example). The Harnoncourt is well recorded with a good ambiance (you almost can't go wrong with the Amsterdam venue these were made in), but Davis again wins; the Philips engineers, far more experienced in the Concertgebouw, pulled off some of their greatest coups when Davis was a regular, as demonstrated by their outstanding results with the Davis Stravinsky ballets and late Dvorak symphonies.



I can recommend this set as a worthy addition to a Haydn collection, but it certainly should not be the "only" set of these symphonies for the less avid listener or less prolific/addicted collector (yes, I confess, I am an addicted prolific collector, and Haydn happens to be one of my biggest weaknesses). For "one" set, get the Davis sets:



Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 1



Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2



If you're willing to sacrifice some sound quality and get more flair than Davis, get the Beecham sets (about the same price):



Haydn: Symphonies #99-104; Sir Thomas Beecham; Royal Philharmonic



Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 93-98



The Beecham recordings are also available in a fine box of 6 CDs coupled with his recording of The Season sung in English :



Haydn: 'London' Symphonies; The Seasons"

Harnoncourt is nearly untouchable

E. Lorge | Earth Human | 04/08/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Dear R.Lane, thank you for your thoughtful review. But frankly, I'm glad I didn't listen to you and I went ahead and bought it.



This is an excellent recording. The only place where I might agree with you is the sound engineering does sound a *tad* bland (too heavy in the middle range?)- but after just a few minutes of this sublime music, you forget it ever bothered you."