Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 30, 26 & 31

On this CD:

1. Symphony No. 30 in C major ("Alleluja"), H. 1/30
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn

Conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos

2. Symphony No. 26 in D minor ("Lamentatione"), H. 1/26
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn

Conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos

3. Symphony No. 31 in D major ("Hornsignal"), H. 1/31
Composed by Franz Joseph Haydn

Conducted by Jesus Lopez-Cobos

Customer Reviews:

Haydn with Period Panache!.......2007-04-21

That's how one prominent review tabbed this set! Went on to compare with Dorati's recording of same, and found this one relative equal, but with somewhat faster tempos and period faithfulness.

Having fallen in love with hearing Symphony #38 on radio with its dazziling oboe part, had to have that recording and in the bargain found many more of this 1760ish collection of Haydn's works to equally love.

Especially fond of No. 31 with its superb horn work and double bass, and also the 30th with its addition of trumpets and drums.

For the price brilliant five disc set to enjoy these in Haydn's symphonic cycle.

Worth acquiring at any price.......2007-02-23

Some say Haydn's ingenuity is even greater than that of Mozart's or Beethoven's. When listening to this brilliantly played set, I find myself becoming a convert of the belief. Haydn experimented with a variety of musical tools in these works. Surprising twists and turns are abundant. You will hear chamber serenade, harpsichord run, or violin solo in the most unexpected spots. Instruments are sometimes played in very unconventional ways resulting in exotic sounds - similar to what Berlioz and Mahler did later. Structure is toyed with in many symphonies, especially in the early ones.

In Austro-Hungrarian Orchestra, Adam Fischer finds an all-in chef's toolkit needed to cook these delightful ingredients. The woodwinds not only sing but also coo and meow. Strings melt your heart to a puddle with their exquisite pianissimo. Horns are expressive yet stylish. The whole orchestra knows how to knock themselves out when the music calls for it. The overall timbre is unlike any other orchestra I've ever heard, period or conventional. It's bright, edgy and folksy at the same time. It sounds like a virtuosic chamber ensemble rather than an orchestra except in the big symphonies. I believe the closest thing to their sound is Vienna Philharmonic playing Johann Strauss waltzes. Throw in a hint of gypsy flavor then it would be even closer.

Because this is a massive 33-CD set, there are inevitably a few imperfections. In a handful of spots the strings are not perfectly together. Adding to this, some of the violins have very distinctive tones which don't blend well with others when the music gets energetic. As to the engineering, some of the symphonies recorded early in the cycle are captured with too much reverberation, especially some London symphonies which sound soft-edged. But let me assure you the vast majority of the 100 plus symphonies have been recorded with crystal-clear brilliance.

One may find more sophisticated and smooth playing in some conventional performances (Colin Davis and Jochum) or crisper articulations in some period recordings (Bruggen and Pinnock). But Fischer and his hand-picked orchestra deliver more character and expressiveness than in any Haydn performances I've ever heard. Harnoncourt comes close but Fischer's set has more smiles. And his orchestra has the devilish ability to accommodate any mood Haydn's score throws at them - whether it's charm, wit, panache, or pathos. Their playing in slow movements is simply inimitable.

This set will be the source of joy for many Haydn lovers whether they are beginners just opening up the treasure chest or seasoned collectors with many other Haydn CDs. According to others' opinions, it compares favorably to Dorati's box, the only other complete set which I have not heard.

One final point - I wrote the review without the consideration of the price. In other words, this set is worth acquiring at any price.

Great Haydn .......2005-07-06

A superlative recording of Haydn symphonies. These perfomences are very enjoyable and i highly recommend them

Excellent........2004-03-15

To record the complete Haydn symphony cycle (107 symphonies or so, depending on which reference you choose) is no doubt a daunting task to say the least. Haydn's genius is evident in every one of these works, from the earliest to the experimental middle periods (but they are all experimental in some way), to the late, great works of the '90s. His symphonies not only provide almost endless formal and musical variety - they are an unusually accurate (if the current Hoboken numbering is corrected) documentation of a great composer's steady growth as a composer. This is why boxed sets of symphonies such as this series offered by Fischer and the Esterhazy Orchestra are so important, not only for those who love Haydn in particular, but for those who are interested in the development of the orchestra, the symphonic form, and the history of Western music in general.

As this set follows the incorrect Hoboken numbering system, the set recorded here includes a few of his earliest symphonies written in the late 1750s as well as those written during his "Years of Transition", to use Geiringer's apt term for those works written during the experimental years of the 1760s. These include the early masterpiece, no. 31 in D major, "The Hornsignal", the beautiful no. 21 in A major, the famous no. 22 in the "wisdom" key of E-flat major, "The Philosopher" (the first symphony to my knowledge that uses English Horns), and 2 minor-keyed works (I don't include no. 34 in this category because only the first movement is in d minor), nos. 26 in d minor, "Lamentatione", and no. 39 in g minor. (Incidentally, both of these minor-keyed symphonies had an obvious influence on Mozart - his d-minor fugue for 2 pianos and his "Little" g-minor symphony are the most obvious respective debtors to Haydn's examples here.)

This recording is excellent throughout. The sound is wonderful, the tempi and interpretations are clear, simple, and forceful and the playing is first rate. These sterling qualities are present in each of the symphonies recorded here and the only quibbles I have are merely interpretive. The technical difficulties written for the horn parts are played with absolute aplomb and even the occasional concertmaster and other string solo passages not written in the score (this is a liberty taken by Fischer) usually add to the interest rather than detract. Fischer occasionally prefers grace over fire and the occasional attempts to make the music more charming by using such devices as extremely clipped articulation or sudden (and sometimes nonsensical) volume changes or backing away from a forceful cadence are minor distractions. Overall, the interpretations are very good.

For this price, Nimbus is offering quite a bit of wonderful music that is handsomely packaged and extremely well recorded. The liner notes are succinct, yet informative and I guarantee learning will take place while listening and reading up on this great set of works. I highly recommend this recording.

(By the way, Amazon's advertisement for this set includes 2 works not included in the recording due to a mistake: Symphonies 'A' and 'B' are non-numbered symphonies and are not the names of two symphonies. They were included in Haydn's symphonic cycle after Hoboken (whose numbering system is mostly followed) had died. Symphony 'A' and symphony 'B' are included in this recording. Nos. 45, "The Farewell", and 71, an even later work, are NOT included in this recording.)

the cycle is complete.......2001-11-29

Well it took 14 years, but this 5 disc volume completes the 32 disc collection of Haydn symphonies.

As with the previous volumes this one is fully digital, the technical quality of these discs is excellent.

I have all 8 volumes and have been happy with every one of them.

Tracks:

Sym No.30 in C, Hob.I-30 'Alleluja': I. Allegro
Sym No.30 in C, Hob.I-30 'Alleluja': II. Andante
Sym No.30 in C, Hob.I-30 'Alleluja': III. Finale. Tempo Di Menuet, Piu Tosto Allegretto
Sym No.26 in d, Hob.I-26 'Lamentatione': I. Allegro Assai Con Spirito
Sym No.26 in d, Hob.I-26 'Lamentatione': II. Adagio
Sym No.26 in d, Hob.I-26 'Lamentatione': III. Menuetto
Sym No.31 in D, Hob.I-31 'Mit Dem Hornsignal': I. Allegro
Sym No.31 in D, Hob.I-31 'Mit Dem Hornsignal': II. Adagio
Sym No.31 in D, Hob.I-31 'Mit Dem Hornsignal': III. Menuetto
Sym No.31 in D, Hob.I-31 'Mit Dem Hornsignal': IV. Finale. Moderato Molto

Average customer rating:

Fantastic!

Great Melodies of the Classics

Manufacturer: Intersound Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Pavanes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

French | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

German | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000BH2
Release Date: 1997-05-20

Tracks:

Le Rondeau ('Masterpiece Theatre' Theme)
Canon in D
Allegro from 'The Spring' from 'The Four Seasons'
Alla Hornpipe from 'Water Music'
Air for the 'G' String
Allegro from 'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 5
Arrival of the Queen of Sheba from 'Solomon'
Largo from 'Xerxes'
Minuet and Badinerie from Orchestral Suite No. 2
Adagio
Vivace from Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra, 'Double'
(Allegro) from 'Brandenburg' Concerto No. 3
La Rejouissance: Allegro from 'Royal Fireworks Music'
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Largo ma non tanto from Concerto for Two Violins and Orchestra, 'Double'
Hallelujah! from 'Messiah'

Tracks:

Allegro con brio from Symphony No. 5
Allegro from 'Eine kleine Nachtmusik'
Andante ('Elvira Madigan' Theme) from Piano Concerto No. 21
Adagio sostenuto from 'Moonlight' Sonata
Molto allegro from Symphony No. 40
Overture to 'The Marriage of Figaro'
Adagio; Allegro from Symphony No. 104, 'London'
Overture to 'Egmont'
Fur Elise
Allegro from Symphony No. 5
Minuet from String Quartet in E major, Op. 13, No. 5
Finale from Symphony No. 9, 'Choral'

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1: Introduction
'Pictures at an Exhibition': Promenade
Symphony No. 4, 'Italian': Introduction
'The Valkyrie': Ride of the Valkyries
'Peer Gynt': Dawn
'Carmen': Habanera
Slavonic Dance No. 1
Entry of the Gladiators
'Also sprach Zarathustra': Introduction
Excerpt from 'On the Beautiful Blue Danube'
'William Tell' Overture: Finale
'Aida': Triumphal March
'The Nutcracker': Waltz of the Flowers
'1812' Overture: Finale
'Lohengrin': Prelude
Violin Concerto: Allegretto non troppo; Allegro molto vivace
Symphony No. 9, 'From The New World': Largo
24 Preludes, Op. 28:: No. 4 in E Minor
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No.7 in A Major
24 Preludes, Op. 28: No. 20 in C Minor
'Orpheus In The Underworld': Can-Can

Tracks:

Bolero
Pavan for a Dead Princess
'La Mer' ('The Sea'): From Dawn Until Noon on the Sea
Fanfare for the Common Man
'Appalachian Spring': Variations on a Shaker Dance
'Candide': Overture
Highlight from 'Rhapsody in Blue'
'Gayane': Sabre Dance
Adagio for Strings
'Carmina Burana': Introduction
'Lieutenant Kije': Troika
'The Firebird': Finale

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic!.......2005-11-29

I bought this cd set years ago and they're still my favorite cds. Each cd follows a genre (baroque, classical, romantic, or modern and impressionist) and gives a great sampling of some of the strongest pieces in that genre. I don't know what I'd do without these cds.