Haydn: 4-8 June

[Roehre]

Am I the only music lover who prefers Haydn to Mozart?

No. I certainly do too.

[Pegleg]

OAE/Kuijken for me - absolutely superb, and a set I often return to.

Thanks, I must try to get to hear this. So far I've only clapped ears on the Fischer and the Hanover Band/Roy Goodman versions of symphony 83 and Harnoncourt's set on DHM.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

OAE/Kuijken for me - absolutely superb, and a set I often return to.

The very recording I was playing yesterday!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

And look at the price here!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-Paris-Symphony-Joseph/dp/B000031WJC/ref=sr_1_1?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1339073886&sr=1-1

... it's almost scandalous!

[JohnSkelton]

Another vote for Kuijken; though my favourite is Brüggen's set http://www.amazon.co.uk/Haydn-The-Pa...9074569&sr=1-1.

[jayne lee wilson]

Yes, I love the Bruggen Paris set too - but don't forget the spectacular Harnoncourt - a truly creative interpretation with every repeat including 1st-movement 2nd-half repeats! (The first movements take at least 10 or 12 minutes...). It's the Concentus Musicus (on DHM), but has a big, powerful sound, the astounding rhythmical and dynamic energy offset by sublime slow movements.
One of Harnoncourt's best sets, the booklet includes some fascinating conductor's "working notes" by NH. This, about No.83's finale: "The finale is a hunt - all energetic and jolly, but the shots are real, the prey takes flight, and at bars 85-87 some listeners will make out the sound of a wounded beast." When I bore this in mind I had tears in my eyes when I heard the poor animal!

[HighlandDougie]

Yes, I love the Bruggen Paris set too - but don't forget the spectacular Harnoncourt - a truly creative interpretation with every repeat including 1st-movement 2nd-half repeats!

Some truly great recordings. I love Kuijken and Bruggen as well but Harnoncourt is, as Jayne says, "truly creative". Wonderful stuff. But then so is Bernstein. What is it about Haydn that seems to bring out the best in conductors.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Wonderful stuff. But then so is Bernstein.

- his CBS/SONY NYPhil recordings are my favourite "Big Band" performances. (Karajan would rival them if the Minuets weren't so obese!)

Pegleg mentioned the Fischer: I don't know his "Parisians", but I've enjoyed the recordings of his that I have heard - perfrct for those poor souls who are allergic to "Period" instruments but don't want a huge modern orchestra.

[Flosshilde]

Am I the only music lover who prefers Haydn to Mozart?

Nlo - I would place anything by Haydn above anything by Mozart, with the possible exception of a handful of the latter's operas.


I missed these programmes, except for parts of today's. (I do wish CotW was repeated the following week, rather than the same day). It was interesting to hear that Haydn suffered from what sounded like SAD. I wonder if there's any link between that & what to me is the exhilerating mood of his music?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The greater popularity of Haydn isn't something new: the records (not, alas, that sort!) of the "Concert Spirituel" series from 1788-90 show that, of 110 symphonies performed altogether, 79 were by Haydn; only 1 by Mozza. (WAM was less popular than Lachnitz - with 7 performances - and Guénin or Pleyel - with 2 each!)

Bernard Harrison's Cambridge Music Handbook on the "Paris" Symphonies - from which I've nicked the above data - is well worth reading.

[aeolium]

The greater popularity of Haydn isn't something new: the records (not, alas, that sort!) of the "Concert Spirituel" series from 1788-90 show that, of 110 symphonies performed altogether, 79 were by Haydn; only 1 by Mozza. (WAM was less popular than Lachnitz - with 7 performances - and Guénin or Pleyel - with 2 each!)

Though these things change with fashion, don't they, fhg, and is popularity the be-all and end-all anyway? We know in what high regard both composers held each other. As you say, fortunately we don't have to choose between them.

I prefer Haydn in the quartets, symphonies and choral music, Mozart in other chamber music, concertos and operas. It's hard to imagine what Mozart would have achieved had he had the lifespan of Haydn (and think of Haydn's legacy had he died at 35).

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

It's hard to imagine what Mozart would have achieved had he had the lifespan of Haydn (and think of Haydn's legacy had he died at 35).

In fact, it's hard to imagine Mozart's legacy had Haydn died at 35! (Let alone Beethoven's!)

[Roehre]

I prefer Haydn in the quartets, symphonies and choral music, Mozart in other chamber music, concertos and operas.

That makes sense, as these are the strong points of their respective composers (quartets a draw ....).
I'd like to add Haydn's piano trios.

[verismissimo]

That makes sense, as these are the strong points of their respective composers (quartets a draw ....).
I'd like to add Haydn's piano trios.

Oh yes. And Haydn's masses and piano sonatas.

Brilliant summation aeolium!

[LeMartinPecheur]

I prefer Haydn in the quartets, symphonies and choral music, Mozart in other chamber music, concertos and operas.

Cf Flosshilde's "I would place anything by Haydn above anything by Mozart, with the possible exception of a handful of the latter's operas." This made me wonder if I - and probably most other collectors - should be rushing out to buy more heavily into Haydn's keyboard and horn concertos