Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92, 94, & 96

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com essential recording
Like so many great Mozart conductors, György Szell came to Haydn rather late in his career, but then found himself captivated by the music's wholly unique genius. Where Mozart likes long-breathed themes and balanced musical structures, Haydn prefers short, catchy motives and is a master of the unexpected. His orchestration, too, is sharper and more rhythmically defined than Mozart's is, with very free use of trumpets and drums. These three "name" symphonies represent Haydn at his best, and Szell responds with gusto to the music's wit and drama. Unlike so many conductors reared in the central European tradition, Szell never pulls any of Haydn's punches, allowing the winds and brass full play where required, but always within a finely honed stylistic framework. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Szell Is Masterful In The Haydn Symphonies.......2006-11-07

There simply is no excuse for not owning Szell's recordings of Haydn. Szell is in complete sympathy with the classicism of Haydn and Mozart, These performances are full of charm, grace, perfect sophistication and the absolute right sense of drama. The playing of the Cleveland Orchestra is exemplary as always, the sound is great too. Haydn fans, you can't be without these practically perfect records.

Hot Haydn.......2003-07-08

In the 1950s and 60s, CBS/Columbia (now Sony Classical) had the great fortune to have three of America's best orchestras and their conductors on its recording roster -- Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic, Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. Nearly a half-century later, sadly only Leonard Bernstein remains a name that even the non-classical music world knows well. But in the world of the compact disc, this is a wonderful thing, because while Leonard Bernstein analog stereo recordings sell at mid-price, classic performances by Ormandy and Szell are regulated to the budget line. Well, my friends there is justice because the vast majority of these "budget line" recordings are not only amazing, but some are still considered definitive more than 40 years later! George Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra's recordings of Haydn Symphonies Nos. 92, 94 & 96 are no exception. These prefromances may not be as enveloping and all-encompassing as say, Leonard Bernstein's, but they are nonetheless outstanding. The Szell versions instead are lean and mean; poignant, powerful and to the point; refreshingly crisp and direct. If that doesn't s(z)ell you on this recording, then the value should. Never did something of such high quality come at such a small price. Enjoy!

Average customer rating:

Szell Is Masterful In The Haydn Symphonies
One of the best ever
Elegant, Enjoyable Symphonyic Composition
My Favorite Haydn
Inexpensive !

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92, 94, & 96

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 93, 95 & 97

ASIN: B00000276H
Release Date: 1991-04-05

Tracks:

Symphony No. 92 In G Major 'Oxford': I. Adagio; Allegro spiritoso
Symphony No. 92 In G Major 'Oxford': II. Adagio
Symphony No. 92 In G Major 'Oxford': III. Menuetto : Allegretto, Trio
Symphony No. 92 In G Major 'Oxford': IV. Presto
Symphony No. 94 In G Major 'Surprise': I. Adagio; Vivace assai
Symphony No. 94 In G Major 'Surprise': II. Andante
Symphony No. 94 In G Major 'Surprise': III. Menuett : Allegro molto; Trio
Symphony No. 94 In G Major 'Surprise': IV. Finale : Allegro di molto
Symphony No. 96 In D Major 'Miracle': I. Adagio; Allegro
Symphony No. 96 In D Major 'Miracle': II. Andante
Symphony No. 96 In D Major 'Miracle': III. Menuetto : Allegretto; Trio
Symphony No. 96 In D Major 'Miracle': IV. Finale : Vivace assai

Amazon.com essential recording

Like so many great Mozart conductors, György Szell came to Haydn rather late in his career, but then found himself captivated by the music's wholly unique genius. Where Mozart likes long-breathed themes and balanced musical structures, Haydn prefers short, catchy motives and is a master of the unexpected. His orchestration, too, is sharper and more rhythmically defined than Mozart's is, with very free use of trumpets and drums. These three "name" symphonies represent Haydn at his best, and Szell responds with gusto to the music's wit and drama. Unlike so many conductors reared in the central European tradition, Szell never pulls any of Haydn's punches, allowing the winds and brass full play where required, but always within a finely honed stylistic framework. --David Hurwitz

Customer Reviews:

Szell Is Masterful In The Haydn Symphonies.......2006-11-07

There is simply no excuse for not owning Szell's recordings of Haydn. Szell is in complete sympathy with the classicism of Haydn and Mozart, there is no overbearing sentimentality to be found. These performances are full of charm, grace, perfect sophistication and the absolute right sense of drama. The playing of the Cleveland Orchestra is exemplary as always, the sound is great too. Haydn fans, you have no reason to be without these practically perfect records.

One of the best ever.......2005-01-29

The Cleveland Orchestra under the direction of Georg Szell was one of the finest orchestras ever assembled. These recordings of Haydn symphonies are superb: precisely executed and definitely not out of tune. Szell would never have allowed that!

Elegant, Enjoyable Symphonyic Composition.......2003-04-30

Hadyn certainly impresses as one who understands what has gone before him in composition and wishes at the same time to add his own creativity and style.

Known as one who began the classical period, here we have three magnificent examples of such creativity. Like the new four movement style that he helped introduce, especially the dance (minuet) movement.

The Oxford Symphony is elegant, with its serenading winds and moving strings. Here he combines high class and peasant motifs so wonderful, which continue in the remaining two works on this CD.

The Surprise Symphony is certainly entertaining, as he utilizes childish tunes, here Austrian nursery song "Go up and down the lane, there are black cherries a hanging" and then abruptly, startingly brings in the timp explosion. This is such a fun piece, which doesn't drawl or stall out as some other symphonic writers, but with Hadyn it's always movement. He certainly shows that exquisite music can also be light and exuberant. The Finale certainly is all of this!

In the third "The Miracle" he plays with the listener, subtituting clever subsidiary themes and pausing and chaning to keep even the most insensitive hearer offguard. I love the baroque andante with its hovering wind background coupled with tightly knitted strings. The oboe and violin style concerti grossi contribute for a grand finale.

This is well performed and recorded work at this price, or any price and is a delightful addition to one's collection, worthy for many replays.

My Favorite Haydn.......2002-09-25

Of the many Haydn recordings that I own, this is probably my favorite. The conducting and sound are terrific. If you're not adverse to hearing this music on modern instruments, you can't go wrong with this recording.

Inexpensive !.......2002-05-09

Let me preface my comments by saying that I am very new to buying classical music. So anyway, I decided I liked Haydn and turned to Amazon's essential recommendations to find something good. I bought this disc and played it a few times. I love the very upbeat, rhythmic urgency in this music, but I do take exception to hearing it played by Szell and the Cleveland Orchestra. They sound dreadfully out of tune. I would have to say that this is also true of Szell's version of Beethoven's 3rd Symphony (another Amazon essential) compared to Bohm. It sounds just plain annoying on repeated listening. I repeat, I am a novice so I don't know enough other recordings of the same music to steer you to something better, but I do know that the Harnoncourt period instrument disc of symphonies 101-104 sounds brilliant in comparison to this stuff. Not the same rhythmic urgency , but much prettier.. and IN TUNE. Caveat emptor...
UPDATE: There is a brilliant version of Haydn Symphonies 94/100/104 by Antal Dorati (who is my current favorite Haydn conductor) and Hungariria Philharmonia on the Penguin label. Much better than Szell. Also, Dorati's version of 'The Creation' with the RPO is stunning. Check them out.

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92 ("Oxford") & 94 ("Surprise"); La fedeltà premiata Overture [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92 ("Oxford") & 94 ("Surprise"); La fedeltà premiata Overture [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: MD&G Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mozart: Youth Symphonies, Vol. 3 [Hybrid SACD]
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Mahler: Symphony No. 6; Piano Quartet [Hybrid SACD]

ASIN: B0007OP68A
Release Date: 2005-05-24

Tracks: