Complete Harpsichord Concertos Divertimenti & Concertini

Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Ton Koopman (Performer), Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra (Orchestra), Musica Antiqua Amsterdam (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Ton Koopman
• Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Musica Antiqua Amsterdam
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
• Audio CD (February 20, 1996)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000041CY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #221,101 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Haydn at his sweetest, Koopman at his best!, April 11, 2000

By 

Izolda (North Haven, CT United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Harpsichord Concertos Divertimenti & Concertini (Audio CD)

Koopman may not be my Bach hero, but as an organist and harpsichordist he has few equals. If you happen to know his fantastic recording of Handel's organ concerti (as an organist and conductor of his Amsterdam orchestra), you know what to expect from this Haydn release. Koopman's playing is as spontaneous and exciting as it was with Handel (the Handel disc, as far as know, is out of print - what a pity!) - he is obviously enjoying himself! These two discs, filled to the limits (almost 80 minutes each!) with Haydn's keybord concerti, concertini and divertimenti, contain previously released material, hence the budget price (the recordings were made in 1980 and 1982). These are delicious pieces of music, some of them quite famous (e.g. D major, Hob. XVIII:11, better known in its piano version), some deserving greater popularity and some just an acquaintance. Koopman's playing is sometimes short of inspired and his brilliant cadenzas will take your breath away! The orchestral accompaniment is excellent (solo contributions from Reinhard Goebel!) and the sound marvellous. Don't miss it!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Haydn Keyboard Concerti with Koopman, June 7, 2009

By 

Douglas Briscoe - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Complete Harpsichord Concertos Divertimenti & Concertini (Audio CD)

These are lovely performances of mostly little-known repertoire. The one exception in both respects is the D-major Concerto, Hob. XVIII:11. It has been very often recorded, and usually more successfully. I find the recorded sound here wanting (but not in the other works on this album!), and Koopman's tempo for the first movement is too leisurely, IMHO. The playing lacks crispness and suavity to my ear.

The booklet listing contains some erroneous information and omits the name of the violin soloist in the double concerto (who, for the record, is Monica Huggett). The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra is heard on CD 1: tracks 4-9 (not 1-3).

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, May 22, 2006

By 

Cat Nation - See all my reviews

This review is from: Complete Harpsichord Concertos Divertimenti & Concertini (Audio CD)

This collection is great in both sound and performance. I was not familiar with these pieces on harpsichord or on piano, so listening to this set has been great fun, and I will now need to seek out a piano version. Recommended to all lovers of Haydn and of the harpsichord.