"No hesitation from me about the quality of this recording. Just one question though--is there no period of music in which Sir Charles does not feel fully at home? Certainly not the High Classical period. Of course he has a wonderful band at his disposal. As the notes to this recording say, The Orchestra of St. Luke's includes performers who are conversant with both period- and modern-instrumental practice, and with Sir Charles at the helm, it shows. The string sound is crisp--anything but lush--and yet with the kind of caressing of the music that benefits Haydn's wonderful writing at this stage in his career. Listen to how the strings handle Haydn's remarkable variation-form slow movement in Symphony 103. The brass is as bold and clean as you'd hear from the best period-instrument groups, cutting through the orchestral fabric in a thrilling way. The drums, too, are wonderfully to the fore, as they should be. I may be wrong, but I think this is how Haydn's first audiences heard the music, under his own auspices.Sir Charles has done his homework too. Studying contemporary arrangements such as Czerny's and Hummel's, he's tried to reproduce the drumrolls and horn calls Haydn wanted us to hear, as well as the lightning-swift tempi Haydn expected in his minuets. (Just as an education, listen sometime to Bruno Walter's lovely romantic interpretation, with the Columbia Symphony, of the "Military" Symphony. Talk about the antipodes of performance practice!)The result of the combined efforts of Sir Charles and his band is the most exciting versions on disc of these two grand symphonies--at least among the many I've heard. Add to this Telarc's demonstration-class recording, and you have an essential CD, especially at mid-price!"
A little cool
HB | Fort Mill, SC | 05/19/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you like your Haydn brisk, this CD is for you. I like a little more warmth with the gorgeous Haydn melodies stretched just a little bit. The performances here certainly have excitement but it is not really my type of Haydn."
Too fast by far
N. Hopkins | Stockton, CA USA | 03/08/2005
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Previous reviewers have attested to the excellent sound on this CD. I concur: it is outstanding. So is the orchestral playing.
In other respects I disagree with those reviewers' raves.
The CD's annotator notes that Mackerras's recordings of the two symphonies are among "the fastest on recordings." That is true. The allegro of the Military's 1st movement is taken at a presto clip that leaves one breathless -- or, better, gives one not a second to savor a moment before another moment comes cascading in.
I have about a dozen recordings of each of these works. I've listened to Mackerras's four times; I doubt I'll listen to them ever again."
Rescinded!
Ryan Richards | Midland, MI United States | 07/05/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I can't believe the injustice I did this CD originally. I guess I wasn't used to the tightness of sound Sir Charles always brings his music after the spaciousness of the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. Suffice it to say that this CD brings all the qualities anyone could want to these two symphonies: the aforementioned tightness of sound, perfect balance between instrument groups, and (most importantly) a powerful undercurrent of enthusiasm that clearly is the result of the orchestra truly enjoying the music. Particularly on the "Drumroll," the music sounds more like Beethoven than Haydn with its no-holds-barred, powerful approach. My only complaint is that I personally don't feel Mackerras is quite as dramatic as he needs to be with the endings of movements; the closing sections of the outer movements of both symphonies lack ritardando and a feeling of grandeur. This is particularly noticeable on the "Military," which I feel benefited greatly from the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra's expansive musical approach; their recording of the "Military" is still by far my favorite. However, both of those drawbacks can be overlooked when one considers both the technical proficiency of the players AND the enthusiastic power they bring to the music, a rare combination in any case. This is a great CD."
Exciting Late Haydn "London" Symphony Recordings from Macker
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 08/04/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This 1991 Telarc recording of Haydn's symphonies 100 "Military" in G major and 103 "Drumroll" in E flat major, produced by the ever excellent James Mallinson (who is now best known for his LSO Live Recordings) is noteworthy for these respects. It is among the earliest recordings made by the now venerable New York City-based chamber orchestra Orchestra of Saint Luke's, which has gone on to make quite a few critically-acclaimed, award-winning recordings in a musical repertoire which spans over three centuries, from Handel to the latest works by contemporary composers. It is also a fascinating blend of modern instrument and period instrument practice, performed by superb musicians who are familiar with both, including, of course, eminent British conductor Sir Charles Mackerras himself. Last, but not least, this recording was made at the auditorium of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in Washington Heights, New York, NY; the locale of many distinguished classical music recordings for years simply because of its excellent, ambient sound.
Both Haydn symphonies are performed at relatively brisk tempi, even when the movements are denoted as Adagio and Menuet. Symphony No. 100's opening movement (Adagio; Allegro) features a delightful toyish theme; it is followed in a more somber fashion by a second movement (Allegretto) that conjures the "Military" aspect of the symphony through a delightful "dialogue" between the flute and oboe. The concluding two movements are noted as Menuet: Moderato and Finale: Presto. Symphony No. 103's four movements are noted as; I. Adagio; Allegro con spirito II. Andante piu tosto allegretto III. Menuet; Trio IV. Finale: Allegro con spirito. The symphony opens with a bright, quite earnest, drumroll solo from the timpani, which is heard again and again, not only in the first movement, but also in the second. Surprisingly, this fine recording has "disappeared" under the "radar screen"; it deserves recognition as among our best recordings of two of Haydn's best-known late "London" symphonies."
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
