The Haydn Thread

[Julien Sorel]

Currently testing Thomas Fey/Heidelberg Sinfonia on Hänssler Classics: sumptuous sonics, great balance, and none of the outrageous rubato and dynamics of Harnoncourt. Those looking for a modern Haydn symphony might want to investigate. All available on Qobuz.

If you dislike "the outrageous rubato and dynamics of Harnoncourt" then you should avoid Fey. He's a Harnoncourt pupil, and he adopts / adapts many of Harnoncourt's rhetorical strategies. Personally I don't dislike what I think it is you're describing (indeed I find it illuminating) so it's all fine by me . But Fey is not un-Harnoncourt-esque.

[Thropplenoggin]

If you dislike "the outrageous rubato and dynamics of Harnoncourt" then you should avoid Fey. He's a Harnoncourt pupil, and he adopts / adapts many of Harnoncourt's rhetorical strategies. Personally I don't dislike what I think it is you're describing (indeed I find it illuminating) so it's all fine by me . But Fey is not un-Harnoncourt-esque.

Thanks for the warning, and for your detailed contribution, which I read with much interest. Regarding Fey v Harnoncourt, I find the pupil's symphonies to be less 'in your face' than his teacher, from a simple side-by-side comparison. Perhaps better sonics and balance in the recording help?

[Julien Sorel]

Thanks for the warning, and for your detailed contribution, which I read with much interest. Regarding Fey v Harnoncourt, I find the pupil's symphonies to be less 'in your face' than his teacher, from a simple side-by-side comparison. Perhaps better sonics and balance in the recording help?

The sound varies on the Fey recordings. It's a little recessed in a few of the earlier discs (not symphonies) I've heard. The latest, 26, 27 and 42 is magnificent in every way IMV. Sound, present but not overbearing but immediate, and vivid performances full of the excitement I miss in Fischer / Hogwood (but this is very personal). I like the sound for Harnoncourt, though I guess it's a bit resonant for some tastes (I think there are two specific venues for the various recordings which span oh 20 years? but I can't check just now). His 'Paris' symphonies are very much interpreted: but I find that to my taste. Fey isn't quite as much, I guess: but he does have his ideas (and Harnoncourt's habit of detaching trios from minuets). I also find Kuijken lovely, though, and he's much less interventionist.

If you can hear the Festetics in the quartets, do. Trouble is I bought them as they came out. I'm not sure if they are all available now and in one purchase would be horrendously expensive. The London Haydn Quartet (Hyperion) again have a very particular approach to sound and rhetoric embodied in sound (I know that's not at all clear) but I like them very much.

[gurnemanz]

I echo Julien's support for the Van Swieten Trio with fortepiano on Brilliant. I play the discs often. The balance of instruments must be nearer to what Haydn would have expected to hear.

I have the Adam Fischer Symphony box but am also fond of Beecham/RPO in the last symphonies. Over the last few weeks I have been greatly enjoying getting to know the Bernstein recordings on his recent large Symphony Box.

Other favourite boxes are the Los Angeles in the String Quartets and John McCabe in the Piano Sonatas.

[Thropplenoggin]

Christopher Coin in the Hogwood/AAM cello concertos certainly sounds like a gem to me.

[Parry1912]

At last somebody's mentioned the cello concertos. It was the Rostropovich/ASMF LP on EMI that got me 'into' classical music in the first place. Still a favourite.

Let me also give a plug to the Emerson Q's 2CD set of quartets entitled 'The Haydn Project'. Excellent!

Also worth keeping your eyes out for SH CDs by the Kodaly Quartet on Amazon Marketplace. Some terrific Haydn bargains to be found.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

If you can hear the Festetics in the quartets, do. Trouble is I bought them as they came out. I'm not sure if they are all available now and in one purchase would be horrendously expensive. The London Haydn Quartet (Hyperion) again have a very particular approach to sound and rhetoric embodied in sound (I know that's not at all clear) but I like them very much.

Ah! The Festetics Four - I knew there was an alternative to the Mosaiques that somebody had mentioned on a different Thread, but couldn't remember what it was. Thanks, Julien.

[gamba]

Forget the QM in Op. 20. The London Haydn Quartet is the one to go for. Probably worth waiting for them to record Op. 33 too.

http://www.londonhaydnquartet.co.uk/review.mp3

The LHQ's Op. 9 and 17 sets are also very special.

Bryn,

Have just heard the London Haydn Quartet on my ipad & am with you all the way !!

[mercia]

big thumbs-ups from me for the (later) masses
I have the 'old' Cambridge colleges recordings which are getting on a bit I guess but are still very stylish in my opinion

[vinteuil]

Forget the QM in Op. 20. The London Haydn Quartet is the one to go for.

Bryn - I have always enjoyed the Quatuor Mosaïques - in op 20 and in op 33 (as well as in Mozart).

What is wrong with them - for you - in op 20 here?

From the reviews the London Haydn Qtt certainly look good. I wonder if I shd collect them as they come out - or exercise patience in the hope that hyperion will produce a nice complete box when they've finished....

[Thropplenoggin]

Bryn - I have always enjoyed the Quatuor Mosaïques - in op 20 and in op 33 (as well as in Mozart).

What is wrong with them - for you - in op 20 here?

From the reviews the London Haydn Qtt certainly look good. I wonder if I shd collect them as they come out - or exercise patience in the hope that hyperion will produce a nice complete box when they've finished....

And the Festetics, alors?

I believe these are period-performances, too. They can be had s/h for much better value than the QMs, now.

[vinteuil]

And the Festetics, alors?

I believe these are period-performances, too. They can be had s/h for much better value than the QMs, now.

... I must listen again to the Festetics. If I remember aright I found them a little rougher, more approximate, less focused, less well-recorded than the Mosaïques. But I did like them - and it's ages since I listened to them. Perhaps the Easter period will give me a chance...

[Julien Sorel]

From the reviews the London Haydn Qtt certainly look good. I wonder if I shd collect them as they come out - or exercise patience in the hope that hyperion will produce a nice complete box when they've finished....

I don't think there's any indication they are going to record all the quartets: I got the impression it was the earlier sets (op. 9, 17, 20) in, interestingly, later C18 editions they were concentrating on. But I could - I hope I am - be wrong.

[verismissimo]

Any suggestions from anyone for the Piano Music?

I learned these pieces from John McCabe's cycle on Decca, using a modern Steinway.

These days I like Christine Schornsheim's set very much. Well played and recorded on a wide range of appropriate instruments.

BTW my current favourite among the neglected operas is L'isola disabilita. (Dorati.)

[Bryn]

Bryn - I have always enjoyed the Quatuor Mosaïques - in op 20 and in op 33 (as well as in Mozart).

What is wrong with them - for you - in op 20 here?

From the reviews the London Haydn Qtt certainly look good. I wonder if I shd collect them as they come out - or exercise patience in the hope that hyperion will produce a nice complete box when they've finished....

As I indicated in a later message, I am glad to have (in addition to the LHQ recordings of the early works for string quartet) both the Festetics and the QM. My point re. forgetting about the QM recordings was that the LHQ would be my first choice. If the budget runs to it, I would suggest getting all three, LHQ, QM and FQ. Then of course, there are some fine sets using more 'modern', beefed up, string instruments. Last year I got the Aeolian's set. I have yet to listen to all in that box, but what I have heard is a delight.