Customer Reviews

Complete Harpsichord Concertos Divertimenti & Concertini

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

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).

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.

For those listeners who are enchanted or put off by Mr. Koopman's sometimes outrageous interpretations of Bach's keyboard music, here his utter lack of spontaneity can only disappoint. Listen to the famed D Major concerto - the cautious tempi and the omni-present mechanical noise hardly suffice cover Mr. Koopman's lack of ideas for this music. The cadenzas are laughable, with Koopman contenting himself with a couple of verbatim quotes, and basta cosi!

Very good; I love Haydn music