Joseph Haydn: London Symphonies Nos. 93, 94 "The Surprise" & 95

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Surprise Symphony was, before the Mozart craze of the early 1990s, the most famous piece of classical music after Beethoven's Fifth, and if it gets into some feature film it could well regain it's former position. It says something for Haydn's ability to write consistently interesting and witty music that the most popular, "named" part in a symphony (this one included) is likely to be the slow movement. In other words, Haydn is often at his most entertaining just when other composers are putting you to sleep. Symphony No. 93 also has a surprise in its slow movement--a highly scatological comment from the bassoon at the very end, followed by what can only be described as orchestral laughter. Listen for yourself and see if you don't agree! --David Hurwitz

Tracks:

Sym. No. 93 in D major: Adagio - Allegro assai - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 93 in D major: Largo cantabile - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 93 in D major: Menuetto & Trio: Allegro - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 93 in D major: Finale: Presto ma non troppo - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 94 in G Major: Adagio - Vivace assai - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 94 in G Major: Andante - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 94 in G Major: Menuet & Trio: Allegro molto - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 94 in G Major: Finale: Allegro di molto - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 95 in C Major: Allegro moderato - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 95 in C Major: Andante - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 95 in C Major: Menuetto & Trio - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 95 in C Major: Final: Vivace - J. Haydn

Tracks:

Sym. No. 96 in D major: Adagio - Allegro - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 96 in D major: Andante - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 96 in D major: Menuetto & Trio: Allegretto - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 96 in D major: Finale: Vivace (assai) - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 97 in C major: Adagio - Vivace - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 97 in C major: Adagio ma non troppo - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 97 in C major: Menuetto & Trio: Allegretto - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 97 in C major: Finale: Presto assai - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 98 in B-flat Major: Adagio - Allegro - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 98 in B-flat Major: Adagio - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 98 in B-flat Major: Menuet & Trio: Allegro - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 98 in B-flat Major: Finale: Presto - J. Haydn

Tracks:

Symphony No. 99 in E-flat Major: Adagio - Vivace assai - J. Haydn
Symphony No. 99 in E-flat Major: Adagio - J. Haydn
Symphony No. 99 in E-flat Major: Menuet & Trio: Allegretto - J. Haydn
Symphony No. 99 in E-flat Major: Finale: Vivace - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 100 in G Major: Adagio - Allegro - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 100 in G Major: Allegretto - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 100 in G Major: Menuet & Trio: Moderato - J. Haydn
Sym. No. 100 in G Major: Finale: Presto - J. Haydn

Tracks:

Sym No. 101 in D Major (Clock): Adagio --Presto - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 101 in D Major (Clock): Andante - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 101 in D Major (Clock): Menuet & Trio: Allegretto - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 101 in D Major (Clock): Finale: Vivace - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 102 in B-Flat Major (Miracle): Largo - Allegro vivace - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 102 in B-Flat Major (Miracle): Adagio - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 102 in B-Flat Major (Miracle): Menuetto & Trio: Allegro - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 102 in B-Flat Major (Miracle): Finale: Presto - Joseph Haydn

Tracks:

Sym No. 103 in E-Flat Major (Drumroll): Adagio - Allegro con spirito - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 103 in E-Flat Major (Drumroll): Andante pito allegretto - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 103 in E-Flat Major (Drumroll): Menuet & Trio - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 103 in E-Flat Major (Drumroll): Finale: Allegro con spirito - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 104 in D Major (London): Adagio - Allegro - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 104 in D Major (London): Andante - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 104 in D Major (London): Menuetto & Trio: Allegro - Joseph Haydn
Sym No. 104 in D Major (London): Finale: Spiritoso - Joseph Haydn

Customer Reviews:

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.

Very enjoyable.......2002-03-23

I have enjoyed these discs quite a bit. The playing is fabulous, and the conducting is fine. Sometimes the engineering is a little muddy, but not near enough to destroy my pleasure.

For the ultimate London symphonies, I highly recommend Beecham on EMI. No one has matched his charm and wit with the drama. Fischer's recordings are great; Beecham is awesome!

Terrible recordings ruin decent performances........2001-12-11

Overmiked, overmixed recordings that sound very unnatural, wasting their authentic recording venue. Bass is boomy and muddy on some of them. The performances themselves are OK, but generally too slow and relaxed for my tastes. I would recommend the Colin Davis set on Philips instead. It contains warmly-recorded performances, none of which falls short of excellent, and it comes on only 4 discs, which comes out to about the same price as this Fischer set, and you only have to buy 2 at once.

The ones who know it best.......2000-05-16

I suppose it's a tad bit ethnocentric to assume that because Fischer and the Haydn Orchestra are Hungarian they'd be able to play Haydn better than anyone else, but in this case I feel it's true. Aside from having a high level of technical skill, the orchestra puts real verve and life into their performances. (You will never listen to another recording of the "Military" symphony again.) This is coupled with Fischer's flair for the dramatic; endings are rallentandoed appropriately, and each piece shines with the sense that it is being thoroughly interpreted, not just perfunctorily played through. A rather muffled-sounding recording of the "Clock" symphony and some blurriness in the first movement of the "Military" does not detract from the overall greatness of these interpretations. Ethnocentric or not, these players know what they're doing.

A wonderful collection.......2000-03-29

This is an excellent collection of Haydn symphonies. It is the highest numbered volume in an 8 volume set although it is not the last to be produced. Volumes 5 and 2 are forthcoming and will be available in October of 2000 and 2001 respectively. (I contacted the record label to find out...that's how much I enjoy this set) It is a full digital recording and has no discernable technical flaws. The performances are beautifully done. If you are looking for a complete collection of Haydn symphonies - this is one piece of the set I would recommend.

Haydn: The London Symphonies Nos. 93-104

Average customer rating:

Clean performances in lovely sound, but that's not enough
The most enjoyable Haydn I own
Romantic Haydn

Haydn: The London Symphonies Nos. 93-104

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Berlioz: Harold en Italie
Schumann - The Symphonies / Barenboim, Berlin Staatskapelle
Mahler: Das Klagend Lied
Mahler - The Symphonies / Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Sir Georg Solti
Robert Schumann: Symphonies Nos. 1-4

ASIN: B0001Y4JHK
Release Date: 2004-10-12

Customer Reviews:

Clean performances in lovely sound, but that's not enough.......2007-04-27

No one should expect the fire-eating Solti when it comes to Haydn. As its often his wont, his driven style becomes quite tame--the same thing happens in Beethoven. Eerything here is cleanly played, and the sound provided by the ?Decca engineers falls gracefully on the ear. The London Phil. has the distinciton of two "London" symphony cycles, this one and another on DG with Eugen Jochum. They play beter for Solti, and his direct, unfussy approach, though semi-anonymous, is preerable to Jochum's plodding dullness and heavy hand.

That said, I never smiled while listening to these readings. There's no depth or humor to be had here, unlike the marvelous Beecham and equally impressive Bernstein. Tempos are moderate throughout, with no surprises in either the fast or slow movements; happily, the Minuets are light-footed. I won't run through each symphony because they all follow the same model---each is precise, respectful, and unexceptionable. For me, that's jsut not enough to make this great music come alive.

The most enjoyable Haydn I own.......2006-07-29

I bought this set with some trepidation, because I had a hard time conceptualizing what Solti's Haydn might be. The fullness, sheer size and gloss of the sound at first struck me as stylistically incorrect, but that impression rapidly faded, and now Solti's Haydn easily eclipses the competing sets I've owned. The overrated Davis set is positively lackluster by comparison, (and contains annoying noises from the musicians). Solti's outer movements are a little faster than Davis', the inner movements a little slower. But this scarcely matters, as every note on these recordings is played with such warm-hearted exhuberance and recorded so brilliantly, each symphony seduces the listener on its own. The recordings are remarkably consistent despite multiple producers and venues over a large span of time. Every recording is very clean and contains no distracting noises even on my in-th-ear headphones. I've got other Haydn by Goodman, Muller-Bruhl, Marriner, Mackerras, La Petite band and others, but this set is the one I listen to the most.

Romantic Haydn.......2005-02-15

I am delighted to see these Solti recordings of The London Symphonies reissued. The London Symphonies have been interpreted in various ways by several different conductors. No one has a definitive interpretation. Each has their own strength and weaknesses. Solti's are big, imposing readings in the Romantic mode yet they catch the spirit of Haydn's wit and joy. While these performances have a firm, weighty tone, they are extemely fleet and nimble. They are never ponderous or heavy-footed. Rather, they are sparkling, vivid; naturally supple interpretations. Sometimes Solti's tempos can be too fast, especially in the 97th. One wishes for a larger bassoon belch in the 93rd. Solti's 95th is unsmiling for the most part. But now I am quibbling. I heartily commend these recordings for your Haydn collection.

Joseph Haydn: London Symphonies Nos. 93, 94 "The Surprise" & 95

Average customer rating:

Joseph Haydn: London Symphonies Nos. 93, 94 "The Surprise" & 95

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000001TXX
Release Date: 1993-12-14

Amazon.com

The Surprise Symphony was, before the Mozart craze of the early 1990s, the most famous piece of classical music after Beethoven's Fifth, and if it gets into some feature film it could well regain it's former position. It says something for Haydn's ability to write consistently interesting and witty music that the most popular, "named" part in a symphony (this one included) is likely to be the slow movement. In other words, Haydn is often at his most entertaining just when other composers are putting you to sleep. Symphony No. 93 also has a surprise in its slow movement--a highly scatological comment from the bassoon at the very end, followed by what can only be described as orchestral laughter. Listen for yourself and see if you don't agree! --David Hurwitz

Haydn: London Symphonies V.1 Nos. 93, 94, 97, 100, 103, 104

Average customer rating:

You cannot go wrong with Dorati
Still one of the top two recordings of Haydn's symphonies

Haydn: London Symphonies V.1 Nos. 93, 94, 97, 100, 103, 104
Dorati , and Philharmonia Hungarica
Manufacturer: Universal/Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
ASIN: B000009M5B

Customer Reviews:

You cannot go wrong with Dorati.......2005-01-05

Antal Dorati's legendary traversal of the Haydn symphonies was for many years the only complete set (by one conductor and orchestra) of the symphonies. Today, although there are some other complete sets as well as many great period performances, Dorati's cycle still reigns supreme. Dorati manages to make these works still sound fresh and vibrate after two hundred years. There is a level of spontaneity, as well as an ever obvious sense of joy that make the Dorati traversal the best. It may seem like hyperbole, but Dorati is as close as you will get to "perfect" when it comes to Haydn.

In this CD, several of the popular "London" symphonies are glowing showcased. Although these performances were recorded in the 70s, the sound is crystal clear. I strongly suggest buying this CD not only for the fantastic music but also for the chance to become acquainted with Dorati. Soon you will find yourself purchasing the complete 33 disc set.

Still one of the top two recordings of Haydn's symphonies.......2003-08-10

Back when it first was released nearly 40 years ago, Dorati's recording of the complete Haydn symphonies with the Philharmonia Hungarica was quickly recognized as a great milestone achievement in classical music. It has long been a recipient of the coveted Penguin Guide rosette, indicating a unique and treasured recording. The quality of the playing, the sensitivity of direction, the consistency of performance, the clarity and depth of sound--all these are still impeccable, as evinced by the continued availability of the complete box set in the catalog, even at exorbitant new prices or only slightly reduced used prices. People are still willing to buy--even longing to buy--this complete set. It is rivalled only by Adam Fischer's recording.

These selections (together with vol. 2) comprise the "London" symphonies, numbers 93 to 104 complete, the symphonies composed by the maestro for and during his second and last visit to the well-paying public of London, where Haydn was lionized as the greatest living composer. These symphonies are widely and correctly recognized as the crowning achievement of Haydn's virtual invention of the classical symphony and its elevation to the major form of classical music written for a large public audience, as his compeers, Mozart (Haydn's good friend) and Beethoven (his quondam student), soon realized--in every sense of that word.

Therefore, it only makes sense to buy these recordings, until you can buy the complete box set--or if, like many, you are more frugal and/or wary of owning 100 plus symphonies by the same composer, instead of buying the complete set. Especially since these CDs are inexplicably no longer available domestically, these recordings are a "must have."

Track Listings:

Track Listings

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