Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 & 89

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Frans Brüggen's acclaimed Haydn recordings continue with this coupling of the famous Symphony No. 88 with two works that rival it in quality, if not in popularity. Brüggen's historically informed performances go beyond strict adherence to the notes and to a supposed objectivity to include a large dose of welcome personality. Thus, the orchestra eschews the whiny, shrill violins of so many specialist bands; solos are imbued with warmth and freedom; and slow movements, such as the Largo of No. 88, are done with a measured tempo and a welcome degree of weight. Contrasts between the soloists in the Sinfonia Concertante and the full orchestra are surely drawn, and the piece's charm shines brightly. Brüggen's success in Haydn, as in most of his recorded repertory, is surely due to his ability to reconcile "authenticity" with musicality, a winning combination that makes this disc so desirable. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

Symphony No. 88 In G Major: I. Adagio - Allegro
Symphony No. 88 In G Major: II. Largo
Symphony No. 88 In G Major: III. Allegreto
Symphony No. 88 In G Major: IV. Allegro con spirito
Symphony No. 89 In F Major: I. Vivace
Symphony No. 89 In F Major: II. Andante con moto
Symphony No. 89 In F Major: III. Menuet
Symphony No. 89 In F Major: IV. Vivace assai
Symphony no. 92 in G major: I: Adagio - Allegro spiritoso
Symphony no. 92 in G major: II: Adagio
Symphony no. 92 in G major: III: Allegretto
Symphony no. 92 in G major: IV: Presto

Tracks:

Symphony in C major, No. 90: I. Adagio - Allegro assai
Symphony in C major, No. 90: II. Andante
Symphony in C major, No. 90: III. Menuet
Symphony in C major, No. 90: IV. Allegro assai
Symphony in E flat major, No. 91: I. Largo - Allegro assai
Symphony in E flat major, No. 91: II. Andante
Symphony in E flat major, No. 91: III. Menuet
Symphony in E flat major, No. 91: IV. Vivace

Customer Reviews:

Kuijken reigns supreme!.......2007-05-04

These 5 symphonies were composed between the perennially popular 'Paris' and 'London' cycles in the late 1780's. Only the 92nd is named - 'Oxford', after Haydn received an honary doctorate from that university. It is a justly famous work, fully comparable with Mozart's late symphonies
The others are an absolute delight displaying the wit and brilliance of orchestration that had made Haydn famous throughout Europe. The largo of the 88th is surely one of Haydn's most beautiful!
There are a number of very commendable performances of the works available, though few offer the intuitive grasp that Kuijken and his players display, and at super bargain price.
Collectors of Kuijken's survey of Haydn's music need not hesitate, while others are strongly urge to.

fine, but better can be had.......2006-08-15

These are tenderly played and executed symphonies; but perhaps a little too tenderly and too strict an adherence to original practice technique. Take the magisterial symphony no. 92 as an example: well played, but lacking the excitement and incredible lush (and I may add, old fashioned) sound of Karl Böhm with the Vienna (nla). The introduction is stately, but lacks drive and passion and when the Allegro begins it is understated and under- whelming. I am no opponent of original instruments; I rather think Adam Fischer with the Austro Hungarian Haydn Orchestra maintains the drama and excitement of Haydn better though I have not heard him do these particular symphonies. For the bargain price I may be getting petty, after all they are played well and these are thoughtful performances but it may be a good idea to look elsewhere.

Great recording!.......2003-01-31

This is a great recording! Lots of energy. I find music hard to describe so give it a listen on your Real Player.

Top performance and a bargain.......2002-01-09

If you are looking for two of the most beautiful late Haydn symphonies in one set, this is it! No. 88 (no name) and no. 92 (Oxford) do not belong to the "Paris" or "London" groups of Haydn's symphonies, they are in between. While every movement of no. 88 is a gem, the slow movement is one of the most beautiful compositions in all of classical music. (Remember Brahms' saying, I wish the slow movement of my ninth will sound like this.) The better known no. 92 is perhaps the most dramatic and energetic of all of Haydn's symphonies. Nos. 89 - 91 are beautiful works too, but perhaps not as truly great in every movement as nos. 88 and 92. The performances are dynamic and warm at the same time, i.e. really exciting. The sound is first-rate. A bargain. I have no doubt this should be given a rating of five stars.

Wow! Where Did These Guys Come From?.......2000-04-22

This is an excellent value for the nine dollars or whatever it is, and I'd highly encourage everyone to get it. Granted, there are points where the playing sounds restrained and almost flat, such as the last movement of the 89th symphony. It's also true that Kuijken doesn't have the flair for the dramatic that Solti or Bernstein et al. would have; the music isn't necessarily given any special interpretation. But it is interpreted solidly and with a surprising amount of energy; as well, the skill level of the orchestra is outstanding. What really drew me to these recordings, however, was their earthy, "gutsy" tone; the harpsichord and drum parts to these symphonies, parts which are so integral to Haydn's work, are more prominent than usual, and this takes the music from being something refined and snobbish in a concert hall to being something everyone can identify with. Buy this CD! Now!

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 - 92 / Sinfonia Concertante

Average customer rating:

Another great volume in the collection
Masterful
Worthy of Papa Haydn's Approval!

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 - 92 / Sinfonia Concertante

Manufacturer: Nimbus Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 82-87, the Paris Symphonies
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 93-104, The London Symphonies
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 70 - 81
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 21-39 (A & B)
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 40-54

ASIN: B0000037FN
Release Date: 1994-12-06

Tracks:

Sym No.88 in G: I. Adagio-Allegro
Sym No.88 in G: II. Largo - Friedrich Dolezal
Sym No.88 in G: III. Menuetto & Trio-Allegretto
Sym No.88 in G: IV. Finale: Allegro Con Spirito
Sym No.89 in F: I. Vivace
Sym No.89 in F: II. Andante Con Moto
Sym No.89 in F: III. Menuet & Trio: Allegretto
Sym No.89 in F: IV. Finale: Vivace Assai
Sym No.90 in C: I. Adagio-Allegro Assai
Sym No.90 in C: II. Andante
Sym No.90 in C: III. Menuet & Trio - Gerhard Turetschek
Sym No.90 in C: IV. Finale: Allegro Assai

Tracks:

Sym No.91 in E Flat: I. Largo-Allegro Assai
Sym No.91 in E Flat: II. Andante
Sym No.91 in E Flat: III. Menuet & Trio: Un Poco Allegretto
Sym No.91 in E Flat: IV. Finale: Vivace
Sym No.92 in G, 'Oxford': I. Adagio-Allegro Spiritoso
Sym No.92 in G, 'Oxford': II. Adagio
Sym No.92 in G, 'Oxford': III. Menuet & Trio: Allegretto
Sym No.92 in G, 'Oxford': IV. Presto
Sinf Concertante in B Flat: I. Allegro - Rainer Kuchl/Wolfgang Herzer/Gerhard Turetschek/Michael Werba
Sinf Concertante in B Flat: II. Andante - Rainer Kuchl/Wolfgang Herzer/Gerhard Turetschek/Michael Werba
Sinf Concertante in B Flat: III. Allegro Con Spirito - Rainer Kuchl/Wolfgang Herzer/Gerhard Turetschek/Michael Werba

Customer Reviews:

Another great volume in the collection.......2000-12-23

After much research, I chose this cycle from Nimbus records to complete my Hadyn Symphonies collection. Adam Fischer and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra is scheduled to complete all volumes of this 8 volume set in October 2001 (ending with Volume 2).

As with the other volumes that I have reviewed, this one is also technically flawless. It is a full digital recording so even the finest details can be heard.

Great discs, impressive packaging and its part of a set that is destined to become the benchmark for a complete symphony set.

Masterful.......2000-10-10

Franz J. Haydn is considered by many to be the father of the symphony, having composed over a hundred. The symphonies 88-92 are excellent music that characterize the classical symphony. No. 92 is the "Oxford " symphony which Haydn composed while receiving a degree at that prestigious university. The Minuet movement of No. 89 is a popular Haydn tune. Haydn, although not as celebrated as Mozart, remains a masterful Classical composer. His greatest achievement has to be his spectacular "Creation " for chorus and orchestra. His symphonies, including the famous "Surprise " and "London " symphonies and his quartets are all very excellent. Mozart loved all of Haydn's works. And with good reason.

Worthy of Papa Haydn's Approval!.......2000-08-10

Conductor Adam Fischer has accomplished what few other of his peers can claim: he has recorded all of Joseph Haydn's 104 Symphonies, which are available in a series of volumes (albiet not together in a massive set, which would be enjoyable). Not only has Fischer done this, but his renditions of Haydn's works are utterly superb! My own favorite Haydn symphony has long been the 48th, his "Maria Theresia." The energy and passion of the work, I submit, exceeds anything else the composer ever accomplished in his symphonic endeavors. And Fischer captures the 48th symphony with staggering accuracy and dynamic range. This point perhaps best summarizes ALL of the conductor's versions of Haydn's symphonies. Working with the polished and richly-textured Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra (a name perfectly suited for a group attempting these works) Fischer manages to capture the essential excitement, warmth, emotional surge, soothing undertones, and most importantly, the sheer musical vision of each of Haydn's symphonies.

While these works come as a set, one should not make the tragic mistake of interpreting these symphonies as a long, entertwined linkage of Haydnian thought; each of Haydn's 104 symphonic visions are unique, vastly different expressions of musical observation and explorations of musical intellect. He wrote one hundred and four symphonies! That number itself bespeaks the epic breadth of Papa Haydn's musical vision; Mozart had good reason to refer to his close friend as "The Master"!

Customer Reviews:

Haydn's "Heritage".......2005-05-26

Now that Universal owns Decca, Deutsche Grammophon and Philips, many of those labels' offerings are being coordinated together in various series like "Trio" and "Original Masters" (see my reviews). In a similar vein, the "Decca Heritage" series is basically Decca's version of DG's "Musik...Sprache der Welt" series -- historical albums in digi-paks sold at mid-price. One such title features Haydn's 88th and 101st Symphonies as performed by Karl Munchinger conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. My only previous experience with Munchinger was via his Bach recordings, and his 1955 mono Haydn accounts are just as satisfying. My only complaint, and reason for withholding a fifth star, is this disc is only 40 minutes long. Surely another performance could have been included to make this Haydn "Heritage" a little richer.

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 26, 52, 53, 82-92

Average customer rating:

First rate

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 26, 52, 53, 82-92

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Haydn: London Symphonies Nos. 93-104
Haydn: String Quartets Op 64 Nos 2, 4, 5 /Quatuor Mosaiques
Beethoven - The Symphonies / Augér, Robbin, Rolfe Johnson, Reinhart, AAM, Hogwood
Complete Mozart Symphonies / Pinnock, English Concert
Mozart: Violin Concertos

ASIN: B00005UVAO
Release Date: 2002-12-11

Tracks:

I Allegro Con Spirito - La Petite Bande
II Adagio - La Petite Bande
III Menuet & Trio - La Petite Bande
I Allegro Con Brio - La Petite Bande
II Andante - La Petite Bande
III Menuetto (Allegro) & Trio - La Petite Bande
IV Finale: Presto - La Petite Bande
I Largo Maestoso - Vivace - La Petite Bande
II Andante - La Petite Bande
III Menuetto & Trio - La Petite Bande
IV Finale: Capriccio - Moderato - La Petite Bande

Tracks:

I Vivace Assai - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
II Allegretto - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
III Menuet - Trio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
IV Finale: Vivace - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
I Allegro Spiritoso - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
II Andante - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
III Menuet: Allegretto - Trio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
IV Finale: Vivace - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
I Largo - Allegro - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
II Andante - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
III Menuet: Allegretto - Trio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
IV Finale: Vivace - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment

Tracks:

I Adagio - Vivace - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
II Romance: Allegretto - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
III Menuetto: Allegretto - Trio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
IV Finale: Presto - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
I Adagio - Allegro Spiritoso - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
II Capriccio: Largo - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
III Menuet: Allegretto - Trio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
IV Finale: Allegro Con Spirito - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
I Vivace - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
II Adagio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
III Menuet - Trio - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment
IV Finale: Vivace - Orchestra Of The Age Of Enlightenment

Tracks:

I Adagio - Allegro - La Petite Bande
II Largo - La Petite Bande
III Allegretto - La Petite Bande
IV Allegro Con Spirito - La Petite Bande
I Vivace - La Petite Bande
II Andante Con Moto - La Petite Bande
III Menuet - La Petite Bande
IV Vivace Assai - La Petite Bande
I Adagio - Allegro Spiritoso - La Petite Bande
II Adagio - La Petite Bande
III Allegretto - La Petite Bande
IV Presto - La Petite Bande

Tracks:

I Adagio - Allegro Assai - La Petite Bande
II Andante - La Petite Bande
III Menuet - La Petite Bande
IV Allegro Assai - La Petite Bande
I Largo - Allegro Assai - La Petite Bande
II Andante - La Petite Bande
III Menuet - La Petite Bande
IV Vivace - La Petite Bande

Customer Reviews:

First rate.......2005-03-15

More praise for these performances you will find if you search Kuijken Haydn on Amazon, and I can only add: Go for it! This bargain box is a collection of Kuijken's interpretations of 14 of Haydn's symphonies: three earlier symphonies, then the six Paris symphonies, finally the five symphonies between the Paris and London sets. I wait eagerly for BMG/Deutsche Harmonia Mundi to reissue Kuijken's London set. Price does not matter, as far as I am concerned, nothing compares to Kuijken's direction. But the price is ridiculously low, so go for it!
My taste on Haydn? Before I have the 12 London symphonies with Eugen Jochum, good, spirited, although Jochum's forces are too heavy; his is a Haydn looking forward to the romantic era, a charming mix of Enlightenment and Romanticism.

PS: August 2006: If you search Amazon B000EBDCUA you will find the London symphonies to a nice price. Great!

Average customer rating:

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92 & 88

Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon / Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Ralph Vaughan Williams: A London Symphony (Symphony No. 2) / Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis - Bernard Haitink / London Philharmonic Orchestra
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet

ASIN: B00000E2WJ
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 & 99; Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 [Hybrid SACD]

Average customer rating:

Classic Haydn
Quadraphonic Recordings Get a New Life in SACD

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 & 99; Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Pentatone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Prokofiev: Symphonies Nos. 1, 5, 6 & 7, Autumnal
Respighi: Pines of Rome; Fountains of Rome; Debussy: La mer [Hybrid SACD]
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 4 in E minor, Op. 98 - Carlos Kleiber / Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

ASIN: B0007RUT8E
Release Date: 2005-06-21

Customer Reviews:

Classic Haydn.......2006-09-05

Sir Colin's cycle of late Haydn symphonies are classics and my preferred recordings of these wonderful pieces. The performances are colorful, elegant and well attuned to Haydn's sly humor. The woodwind colorations in the slow movement of No. 99 are worth the price of the disc in themselves. The Beethoven performance is no slouch either. There is one minor caveat. These are faithful replicas of the original 4 channel recordings so there's no separate subwoofer channel if you are relying on a subwoofer/satellite configuration and 5 channel discrete input. If your front channel speakers are not capable of reproducing low bass, the discrete surround mode may sound bass shy. Fortunately, my speakers have extended low end response and the four channel sound is very impressive. The hybrid disc also includes an SACD stereo layer that gives the benefit of the DSD mastering but absent the hall ambiance. I suppose you could use that option in a simulated surround mode, depending on how picky you are about such things. There's also the standard PCM layer as well. Both SACD layers are very fine. The silken strings are especially satisfying.

Quadraphonic Recordings Get a New Life in SACD.......2005-07-01

PentaTone Music was founded in 2001 by three former executives of Philips Classics (one of the classical music labels of Universal) together with Polyhymnia International (the former recording center of Philips Classics). They have made it their mission to release historic (their term) recordings in SACD format, and are using, mostly, quadraphonic (four-channel) recordings initially released on LP in the 1970s. Quadraphonic LPs, as you probably recall, did not live up to their promise both because their incarnation on LPs didn't actually produce all that had been encoded in the recording process, and because few listeners converted their home listening equipment to the quadraphonic format. However, with the advent of SACD (and with some tweaks of the recorded material by the engineers) many of the recorded performances on quadraphonic master tapes are getting a second life.

This CD contains three of the classical music world's favorite symphonies -- Nos. 88 and 99 by Haydn, and Beethoven's First. All conducted by Colin Davis, the Haydns are played by the Concertgebouw (or the 'Royal Concertgebouw' it is now designated) and the Beethoven by the BBC Symphony Orchestra. All three performances are excellent. But the big selling point here is the sound. These are hybrid SACDs, so one can listen to the plain-vanilla CD layer nicely on one's stereo, but when one listens on SACD equipment the sound blooms and it is really quite smashing.

The only complaint I have about these recording is that occasionally, as in the finale of the Beethoven, the pianissimo inner voices fade almost to inaudibility. This could be Davis's doing; his orchestra was plenty capable of playing almost inaudible pianissimi at his command (unlike some lesser orchestras), or it may have been the recording technique. However, this is a small criticism when the performances are considered overall.

I've given the release four stars because I suspect most buyers will be playing it on regular stereo equipment and in that format the sound is adequate but not much more than that. For SACD buyers, it rates five stars, particularly considering that these recordings were made over thirty years ago.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 & 89

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00003ZA6C
Release Date: 2000-08-08

Amazon.com

Frans Brüggen's acclaimed Haydn recordings continue with this coupling of the famous Symphony No. 88 with two works that rival it in quality, if not in popularity. Brüggen's historically informed performances go beyond strict adherence to the notes and to a supposed objectivity to include a large dose of welcome personality. Thus, the orchestra eschews the whiny, shrill violins of so many specialist bands; solos are imbued with warmth and freedom; and slow movements, such as the Largo of No. 88, are done with a measured tempo and a welcome degree of weight. Contrasts between the soloists in the Sinfonia Concertante and the full orchestra are surely drawn, and the piece's charm shines brightly. Brüggen's success in Haydn, as in most of his recorded repertory, is surely due to his ability to reconcile "authenticity" with musicality, a winning combination that makes this disc so desirable. --Dan Davis