Derek Solomons/Haydn

[MickyD]

I've just seen that Sony have finally boxed together all the L'Estro Armonico/Derek Solomons recordings. I was surprised to see they recorded no less than 49 symphonies, taking up 18 CDs.
The box is even cheaper on Amazon.fr

I'm tempted to get these, I have very fond memories of these interpretations when they first appeared.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Symphonies-Derek-Solomons/dp/B0CSRKZL9H/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=30V7ZZFNE8JGX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9 .LXNf5A63gG4xVcPvp6_BN-InoRovGiGk1t_7k81Mq7vcif_sN58TmUvUXisJJN8NrX5WXd5h zTfK0fYJB6EMu3WI_NkBy6Ls1Qv1rSm4mVBTpbup63VpM39XSO S4ZoXyR8q1fJEMPAl5EL3Hgd9NWozx0xjALzJN5RmQpM39POpC 3m1j3KQ7Y3Sy-elJ8AcC3DvG4qoG_EoDtYFxJEarCg.ymREMARX0GP0AbJyakVl Labj74ATu_lqY4wRjVUSUnM&dib_tag=se&keywords=haydn+ solomons+cd&qid=1717782106&sprefix=haydn+solim%2Ca ps%2C110&sr=8-1

[vinteuil]

... thanks for this : very tempting. I have a few of the CDs issued previously, and liked them a lot ; what with a birthday and a rebate on the gas bill I think the temptation will be irresistible. By the way, I think even cheaper on Italian amazon


.

[Roger Webb]

I've just seen that Sony have finally boxed together all the L'Estro Armonico/Derek Solomons recordings. I was surprised to see they recorded no less than 49 symphonies, taking up 16 CDs.
The box is even cheaper on Amazon.fr

I'm tempted to get these, I have very fond memories of these interpretations when they first appeared.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Symphonies-Derek-Solomons/dp/B0CSRKZL9H/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=30V7ZZFNE8JGX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9 .LXNf5A63gG4xVcPvp6_BN-InoRovGiGk1t_7k81Mq7vcif_sN58TmUvUXisJJN8NrX5WXd5h zTfK0fYJB6EMu3WI_NkBy6Ls1Qv1rSm4mVBTpbup63VpM39XSO S4ZoXyR8q1fJEMPAl5EL3Hgd9NWozx0xjALzJN5RmQpM39POpC 3m1j3KQ7Y3Sy-elJ8AcC3DvG4qoG_EoDtYFxJEarCg.ymREMARX0GP0AbJyakVl Labj74ATu_lqY4wRjVUSUnM&dib_tag=se&keywords=haydn+ solomons+cd&qid=1717782106&sprefix=haydn+solim%2Ca ps%2C110&sr=8-1

I stocked these as they came out as individual discs, recorded by Andrew Keener* who came in my shop occasionally when he was recording at St Georges, Brandon Hill. It's a great shame that a lot of the projects to record all the Haydn Syms failed....they usually got about half-way! I think the Nimbus Esterházy ones were one of the few that actually got the lot.

* Correction. Martin Compton produced most/all of these Haydn recordings!

[MickyD]

The first LPs on Saga never made it to CD, so this is a unique chance to have the whole series at last. I never got the following CDs once CBS took over, so I'll have some nice things to discover by getting this box. The Saga LPs remain very much in my mind.

I'm fascinated to see that the box includes five symphonies that never saw the light of day, neither on LP or CD. For that reason alone, this box must be had!

What is interesting is the comments on Amazon from folk who say that the Sturm und Drang symphonies have never been better done, surpassing Bruggen and Antonino. That's quite a recommendation, considering the age of these recordings.

[Roger Webb]

The first LPs on Saga never made it to CD, so this is a unique chance to have the whole series at last. I never got the following CDs once CBS took over, so I'll have some nice things to discover by getting this box. The Saga LPs remain very much in my mind.

I'm fascinated to see that the box includes five symphonies that never saw the light of day, neither on LP or CD. For that reason alone, this box must be had!

What is interesting is the comments on Amazon from folk who say that the Sturm und Drang symphonies have never been better done, surpassing Bruggen and Antonino. That's quite a recommendation, considering the age of these recordings.

I've just had a look on Qobuz and they have all 49 syms arranged on eight albums, mostly remastered at 24bit 44.1k these were, I think, the later ones, the earlier ones are at 16 bit 44.1....still, there's a chunk of my listening for the weekend! I'll let you know how they sound. Do you steam Qobuz, by the way? I find it the best I've tried, although not the cheapest - I thought you might get a preferential rate as they're a French company.

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/article/review-haydn-49-symphonies-l-estro-armonico-derek-solomons

Thought you might like to read this Micky.

[smittims]

This is welcome news. An aquintance of mine reckons this was potentialy the finest Haydn symphony series . Certainly they make an interesting comparison with the Hogwood series (alas! also truncated) made around the same time.

I have the two Saga boxes (6 Lps) plus the CBS 3-Lp box which followed them. I didn't know any more had been recorded. It's gratifying to see that SONY have taken more interest itheir inherirted back-catalogue than CBS and RCA did.

I've often wondeerd why the series was stopped. Maybe the Vivaldi society objected to more of their resources being devoted to Haydn.

[Roger Webb]

I've often wondeerd why the series was stopped. Maybe the Vivaldi society objected to more of their resources being devoted to Haydn.

I think that the projects that started with early symphonies didn't achieve the momentum vis a vis product sales to keep the bus on the road, even with the clout of a big record company like CBS......the Hanover Band nearly got there! The trick is to do a volume of the later symphonies first and invest the revenue from the sales in recording the not so popular ones. This applies to a lot of the repertoire - Beethoven piano sonatas for example

[MickyD]

I've just had a look on Qobuz and they have all 49 syms arranged on eight albums, mostly remastered at 24bit 44.1k these were, I think, the later ones, the earlier ones are at 16 bit 44.1....still, there's a chunk of my listening for the weekend! I'll let you know how they sound. Do you steam Qobuz, by the way? I find it the best I've tried, although not the cheapest - I thought you might get a preferential rate as they're a French company.

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/article/review-haydn-49-symphonies-l-estro-armonico-derek-solomons

Thought you might like to read this Micky.

Many thanks, Roger, yes indeed, I was very interested to read that review and it would seem to bear out what most other people are saying about the Solomons project. Amazing to think that it was being launched just when the AAM were still recording all the Mozart symphonies. I don't stream at all, I'm afraid, my technophobia rules that out and I think I will always remain loyal to the physical form of CDs. It is lovely to see some of these long gone recordings being reissued, like meeting old friends again. I have just ordered the box and hope to have it by Monday via Prime.

Regarding failed attempts at Haydn symphony cycles, Decca didn't do the AAM project any favours by issuing full-price instalments with very paltry content on each disc. I remember shelling out well over thirty to forty quid for each box and not happy to see that there were sometimes only two or three early symphonies on each disc, sometimes under an hour. There is absolutely no doubt that the boxes were very pleasing aesthetically and for their scholarship and it is with profound regret to me that the final five boxes never saw the light of day. But I do think that had Decca done things more economically then the cycle might have been purchased more enthusiastically and reached completion.

[Roger Webb]

Many thanks, Roger, yes indeed, I was very interested to read that review and it would seem to bear out what most other people are saying about the Solomons project. Amazing to think that it was being launched just when the AAM were still recording all the Mozart symphonies. I don't stream at all, I'm afraid, my technophobia rules that out and I think I will always remain loyal to the physical form of CDs. It is lovely to see some of these long gone recordings being reissued, like meeting old friends again. I have just ordered the box and hope to have it by Monday via Prime.

Regarding failed attempts at Haydn symphony cycles, Decca didn't do the AAM project any favours by issuing full-price instalments with very paltry content on each disc. I remember shelling out well over thirty to forty quid for each box and not happy to see that there were sometimes only two or three early symphonies on each disc, sometimes under an hour. There is absolutely no doubt that the boxes were very pleasing aesthetically and for their scholarship and it is with profound regret to me that the final five boxes never saw the light of day. But I do think that had Decca done things more economically then the cycle might have been purchased more enthusiastically and reached completion.

I was 'brought up' on the other Decca set by Philharmonia Hungarica/Dorati, and these 'Period Instrument Perfs' were a breath of fresh air when they came along.

I have listened to several syms at random from three of the volumes so far, the sound, at least on Qobuz, is well defined and clear....but I have one reservation, and I'm not sure I should mention it as you've ordered the CD set.....perhaps you won't even notice as it is a tiny quibble compared to excellence of the ones I've played.

BTW, my comment that Andrew Keener produced some of them at least was misplaced....I had noticed the opening paragraph of the Gramophone article they quoted from an interview with him, so I thought he must have produced them!

[oliver sudden]

I’ve just read the Gramophone review linked above, which inspired me to go looking for this, in which a certain A. Halstead relates among other things his experience recording the slow movement of Haydn 51 in this series…

http://www.halsteadmusic.co.uk/blog-by-tony-halstead

[MickyD]

I was 'brought up' on the other Decca set by Philharmonia Hungarica/Dorati, and these 'Period Instrument Perfs' were a breath of fresh air when they came along.

I have listened to several syms at random from three of the volumes so far, the sound, at least on Qobuz, is well defined and clear....but I have one reservation, and I'm not sure I should mention it as you've ordered the CD set.....perhaps you won't even notice as it is a tiny quibble compared to excellence of the ones I've played.

BTW, my comment that Andrew Keener produced some of them at least was misplaced....I had noticed the opening paragraph of the Gramophone article they quoted from an interview with him, so I thought he must have produced them!

Oh go on, do tell me what the quibble is, I'm dying to hear!

[MickyD]

I’ve just read the Gramophone review linked above, which inspired me to go looking for this, in which a certain A. Halstead relates among other things his experience recording the slow movement of Haydn 51 in this series…

http://www.halsteadmusic.co.uk/blog-by-tony-halstead

Many thanks, I enjoyed that immensely.

[oliver sudden]

Many thanks, I enjoyed that immensely.

Thanks back for alerting us to the box! I heard the Adagio just after posting that and I think the box is going on the shopping list.

[Roger Webb]

Oh go on, do tell me what the quibble is, I'm dying to hear!

Yes, sorry Micky, I shouldn't have said anything. I think it may be how some were produced originally, but, and this is a quite common complaint from me, at the very end of some movts. the acoustic of the hall, and the attendant reverberation of the final note is attenuated, and we get absolute silence until the next movement starts. The way I listen (to Quad electrostatics) is about six feet away with the speakers about seven apart, the resulting image is most lifelike, with the instruments layed out behind the speakers...I'm in the hall - until that is I'm whipped away between movts to an anachoic chamber, only to be thrust back at the start of the next movt!

Lots of recordings have extraneous noise eg traffic, and, famously those trains under the Kingsway Hall! But I'd rather have the acoustic of the hall between movts rather than complete silence....

The above may not be on the discs - it could be Qobuz - in any case it may not bother you as it does me.....having said all that I'm really enjoying these!

[MickyD]

Yes, sorry Micky, I shouldn't have said anything. I think it may be how some were produced originally, but, and this is a quite common complaint from me, at the very end of some movts. the acoustic of the hall, and the attendant reverberation of the final note is attenuated, and we get absolute silence until the next movement starts. The way I listen (to Quad electrostatics) is about six feet away with the speakers about seven apart, the resulting image is most lifelike, with the instruments layed out behind the speakers...I'm in the hall - until that is I'm whipped away between movts to an anachoic chamber, only to be thrust back at the start of the next movt!

Lots of recordings have extraneous noise eg traffic, and, famously those trains under the Kingsway Hall! But I'd rather have the acoustic of the hall between movts rather than complete silence....

The above may not be on the discs - it could be Qobuz - in any case it may not bother you as it does me.....having said all that I'm really enjoying these!

Thanks Roger. I doubt if my rather unsophisticated hifi setup will show up these problems. Actually, I thought you were going to mention Symphony 38 "Echo" - I remember hearing it when it first appeared and the producer obviously cheated in the slow movement. You can hear an audible cough at one point and then you hear exactly the same cough in the repeat - one wonders why this was done. Lack of time for the orchestra to play it second time around?