Customer Reviews

Haydn: Complete Symphonies (33 CD Box Set)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
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For a long time, there was a stereotype that performances on conventional instruments tend to be polished but staid and conservative, while those on period instruments tend to be a bit rough but exciting and vibrant. This set neatly destroys that generalization with a set of performances that are remarkable in their consistent rejection of routine, and their idiomatic communicative nature --- without sacrificing considerable professional virtuosity from the orchestral musicians.

My favourite subset of Haydn's symphonies are the Sturm und Drang symphonies, and I've studied them closely in the readings by Bruggen, Pinnock and the terminated project by Weill and Tafelmusik. Of that set, I liked the Weill best with its bracing freshness, crisp tempi and orchestral flair. Fischer's recordings of the set are every bit as good, dramatically bringing the radical musical argument home to us. This excellence is maintained elsewhere --- the depths of the slow movement of No. 88 are explored (not as dramatic as Furtwaengler, it is true, but not embarassed by him, either), s is the richness of the Paris and London symphonies.

Compared to Dorati, this set is finer --- the contrast between minuets and slow movements is much better articulated. The recording is generally good, although the earlier symphonies are a bit over-resonant.

At Brilliant Classics prices, there should be no hesitation at all.

This set is truly one of those rare deals that is hard to pass up. Fischer recorded these symphonies for Nimbus over the course of 14 years. The results are excellent, all digital recordings made in the hall where Haydn was in residence for a large portion of his life. Brilliant has secured the rights to these recordings, and now offers them in a handsomely packaged box. Each CD is in a sturdy envelope, and the liner notes are informative.

I own "period" performances of several of these symphonies from Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert, and Fischer's intepretations are worthy contenders in my opinion. Fischer uses modern instruments combined with a period style of playing which is a very appealing combination. I've enjoyed every disc in this 33CD collection. Amazon's "new and used" partners frequently offer the entire set for under $100... at that price, you truly cannot afford to be without this set.

Some say Haydn's ingenuity is even greater than that of Mozart's or Beethoven's. When listening to this brilliantly played set, I find myself becoming a convert of the belief. Haydn experimented with a variety of musical tools in these works. Surprising twists and turns are abundant. You will hear chamber serenade, harpsichord run, or violin solo in the most unexpected spots. Instruments are sometimes played in very unconventional ways resulting in exotic sounds - similar to what Berlioz and Mahler did later. Structure is toyed with in many symphonies, especially in the early ones.

In Austro-Hungrarian Orchestra, Adam Fischer finds an all-in chef's toolkit needed to cook these delightful ingredients. The woodwinds not only sing but also coo and meow. Strings melt your heart to a puddle with their exquisite pianissimo. Horns are expressive yet stylish. The whole orchestra knows how to knock themselves out when the music calls for it. The overall timbre is unlike any other orchestra I've ever heard, period or conventional. It's bright, edgy and folksy at the same time. It sounds like a virtuosic chamber ensemble rather than an orchestra except in the big symphonies. I believe the closest thing to their sound is Vienna Philharmonic playing Johann Strauss waltzes. Throw in a hint of gypsy flavor then it would be even closer.

Because this is a massive 33-CD set, there are inevitably a few imperfections. In a handful of spots the strings are not perfectly together. Adding to this, some of the violins have very distinctive tones which don't blend well with others when the music gets energetic. As to the engineering, some of the symphonies recorded early in the cycle are captured with too much reverberation, especially some London symphonies which sound soft-edged. But let me assure you the vast majority of the 100 plus symphonies have been recorded with crystal-clear brilliance.

One may find more sophisticated and smooth playing in some conventional performances (Colin Davis and Jochum) or crisper articulations in some period recordings (Bruggen and Pinnock). But Fischer and his hand-picked orchestra deliver more character and expressiveness than in any Haydn performances I've ever heard. Harnoncourt comes close but Fischer's set has more smiles. And his orchestra has the devilish ability to accommodate any mood Haydn's score throws at them - whether it's charm, wit, panache, or pathos. Their playing in slow movements is simply inimitable.

This set will be the source of joy for many Haydn lovers whether they are beginners just opening up the treasure chest or seasoned collectors with many other Haydn CDs. According to others' opinions, it compares favorably to Dorati's box, the only other complete set which I have not heard.

One final point - I wrote the review without the consideration of the price. In other words, this set is worth acquiring at any price.

In the 21st century, the symphony has now become an even more extravagant and important part of the orchestral repertoire. Such that it has expanded to cover as many different emotions and feelings possible and include an large force of performers to do such a task. Nearly three centuries ago, the symphony was merely an overture acting as a musical hors d'ouevres to the "main event of the evening." One man stood in between these two times to distinctly and radically change the importance of the classical symphony and start it in its direction for IT to become "the main event." That man was one Joseph Haydn. He was a contemporary of Mozart, and was a huge influence on the likes of Mozart as well as Beethoven, who would later take the symphony on a giant step forward. Yes, Beethoven made musical history with his Choral symphony, but who do you think helped get him there from the start?

Within the depth of this monumental set is a true lifetime labor of love. It took Haydn nearly 40 years to compose more than 100 symphonies, and the listener can find it evident how Haydn bridged the gap between Baroque and Romantic through the symphony in what we know as the "Classical style." The first few symphonies reflect a lot of Baroque elements and towards the end, a fully developed Classical style with futuristic hints laced within.

These are all 106 symphonies that Haydn composed during his long stay in the service of Prince Nikolaus Esterhazy, as well as the products of Paris and London, which are, to this day, the most praiseworthy. 104 of these symphonies are numbered and two from Haydn's earlier years, which somehow got lost in the shuffle or were discovered later, were given letters ("A" and "B"). There is also one "Sinfonia Concertante" for violin, cello, oboe and bassoon from the London years. All these performances are quite exquisite and tasteful. Adam Fischer and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra made this a 14 year project from 1987-2001 with so much individual and global history happening during that time period. Fischer himself recalls in the booklet what took place in his life around the time of the recording of certain symphonies. There are even included photos of Fischer before and after the project. After the project, he's balder and older but happier-looking.

Like Antal Dorati, the first conductor to do a complete Haydn symphony project back in the early '70s, Adam Fischer did not record these symphonies in order. These were all issued individually in separate packages over the course of the years. Now Brilliant Classics, with license from Nimbus, includes all of them in this complete package. Though it is 33 discs, one would think it's an enormous box. It's only about 6" by 6" with a depth of about 3". The CD's are enclosed in space-saving envelopes which display disc information on the back, and artistic portrayals of 18th century life on the front. A different painting (in B&W) is on every envelope; some correspond to certain symphonies with nicknames.

The nicknamed symphonies would be the ones I recommend to check out first if you feel it would be too much to go through this whole set in however much time it would take (definitely not nonstop). Just to talk about those would be way too time consuming. You really have to check it out for yourself.

The orchestra performs with lots of gusto and vibrant energy that feature a melodic violin section, clucking woodwinds, razor-sharp brass, deep basses and an agressive timpanist. They truly know the Austro-Hungarian way of performing with the free use of dynamics and rubatos. All are performed on modern instruments which would be the only choice since this orchestra was hand-picked from some of the finest modern orchestras from that part of Europe. Of course if you've heard other orchestras perform some of these works before, and these tempos among other things, are slightly different, only remember that this type of classical music is subject to many different and distinct interpretations. They serve rather well for a complete project. Dorati is the only other individual complete comparison to this. The Naxos label also recently completed a Haydn symphony cycle, but not all with the same orchestra. This would be the choice hands-down as the Dorati set is very hard to get now and is more costly, and so would the individual Naxos recordings be.

Haydn's music is very enjoyable and even fun at times to listen to with his light and humorous-sounding melodies as well as some of the funny-sounding things he demanded from the orchestra like violins going up and down the scales with the basses doing the same in a counterpart, bassoons jumping up and down in octaves, or wind instruments making animal-like sounds such as in #83 (The Hen). Haydn depicted sunrises (#6 "Morning"), an echo effect done by two groups of violins (#38 "Echo"), the orchestra disappearing one by one (#45 "Farewell"), violins who forgot to tune when they should have (#60 "Il Distratto"), an unexpected surprise (#94), the tick-tock of a grandfather clock, (#101), an ominous and intense drumroll (#103) as well as so many other mixtures of emotions from happy and light to dark and dramatic, playful to passionate, reflective to serene. Those interested and those who are studying music theory and the form of the classical style will no doubt have a ball in analyzing these works and listening for the musical choices that Haydn makes in order to make the music flow evenly.

Often being regarded as being too predictable, Haydn was very inventive and unique in the development of the classical symphony. The earliest ones would be the ones that sound too similar, but every one is distinct in its own respect. To those studying this kind of music and have even the slightest interest in Haydn's remarkable symphonic output, this is an essential purchase. Sure it's more than 100 bucks, but music is something you keep forever if it something you are really into. That being said, one could spend $100 on something or many things and in as little as two weeks or as much as five years, it or they would be gone. So this is a lifetime investment. All of us musicians should know.

In conclusion, Haydn still kicks butt in the 21st century!

I'm extremely pleased with this wonderous set. The sound is very rich and colorful, and the Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra displays a central European sound (lustrous strings, tasty oboes, etc.) while providing all the drama, flair, incisiveness of the best performances of Haydn's symphonies. There's plenty of bite and energy in the fast movements -- but still genteel and much lovelier than most of the the period-instrument groups and far superior in performance and sonics over the tired old Dorati set. I purchased Fischer's complete Haydn symphonies for quite a bit more when they were avaiable on a Nimbus import (now defunct) last year, and for [this money] this bountiful traversal of Haydn's delightful symphonies is now a steal. Highly recommended!

Listening to this album (morning and evening commutes over the last several months) has been one of the great musical experiences of my life. The music itself has been unfailingly interesting, moving, delightful -- even the neglected early and middle symphonies. And the playing: beautifully balanced and in tune, sometimes breath-takingly brilliant (where did Fischer find those horn players?), and often touching. The unobtrusive shaping and molding of the individual lines and the ideal tempos (nothing driven or hasty, but everything flowing and unsentimental) make this a model of selfless music-making.

Since this collection is often available at very low prices, there's no reason to pass it over!

Anyone who associates classical music with forbidding profundity and lurking snobbishness should drop their needles (or switch their ipods) onto a Haydn symphony, and unconsciously begin to tap their feet and nod their heads to the experimental glee and unpretentious freshness of this music. Adam Fischer's heroic complete recording has endless glories, and he avoids both the tip-toeing "authenticity" of many period instrument conductors and the humorless, bland beauty of the modern approach. Instead, we get unfettered, joyous music-making which captures the spirit of Haydn. Fischer's folksy, ragtag 18th century big band is full of personality: witty string soloists, wild oboes, a groovy timpanist, a bumptious brass section. If you're new to Haydn, you can still feel safe buying this (though, like other reviewers, I recommend looking for better bargains than Amazon's price); I can't think of many human beings for which Haydn's music wouldn't be appealing once they get to know it.

What can one say, but "magnifico"!! Haydn is truly the most underrated, underappreciated, and underplayed composer of the last 250 years. His music is truly the most original and greatest of the classical period. I own a complete set of Mozart and Beethoven symphonies (great recording/conducting) but they do not compare to Papa Haydn's skill, techinque and awesome display of melody. Yes, Mozart and Beethoven are geniuses, but they have nothing on the old master.

As for this-BOX_SET-These Symphonies demostrate Haydn's genius. The AH-Haydn Orch is superb and Adam Fischer conducts with such great fire, tempo, sweetness, and precision resulting in the GOLD standard for all of Haydn's recorded symphonies. Don't let this set go-bye without a purchase. There are so-many things that are so-right about it; digitally recorded-DDD, sounds outstanding; AH-Haydn Orch.'s performance, the best so far to date; Conductor Adam Fischer, brings out the best in the music and lastly, recorded at Esterhazy Palace, Eisenstadt, Austria; the location where Haydn himself premiered most of his symphonies; what else could one ask for.

As I sit here listening to CD 6, more specifically Sym No. 22, "Der Philosoph", I would like to personally- Thank -Adam Fischer and Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra for the most remarkable set of Haydn's Symphonies available. A 15 year project which included many changes for many people, including the individuals working on this project; and through it all, I am glad to see the Spirit of Haydn has remained the same. A HUGE BRAVO.....................................

Over the years I have collected, and loved, a vast amount of different music, in many genres. Gradually, I've become convinced that for me, the pinnacle of all music - the very best music ever composed, is that of the Symphonic works of one Joseph Haydn. There are 104+ symphonic works on these wonderful discs, (104 Symphonies and some posthumous and miscellaneous works) and not one of them is without an exquisite melody, beautiful and original orchestration - and that thing oh so rare in most music: wit and boundless creativity. (Only Zappa (One Size Fits All) and McCartney (Paul, not Jesse, in his 1970s self-produced releases) and early Mozart (I mean up to about puberty) have reached the heights of Haydn). Conductor Adam Fischer and his hand-picked Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra are artists that obviously love this music. I generally prefer 'authentic' orchestras, but these performances contain many, many moments of completely original readings which do not sound forced and unnatural- they just sound RIGHT. All in all, even though it's not a perfect set - (some overbearing string-section on the slow movements of early works, and some cavernous recording of some late works) I must recommend it highly - especially considering the price and the amount of excellent music you get for it. Mostly wonderful performances of wonderful works.

Edit, after a couple of years: Now I've realised that Mozart's works are just as good, and sometimes even better than Haydn's. A miraculous world!

These symphonies were originally released by Nimbus and in their present incarnation are an absolute steal at the price that Brilliant is charging.

For the most part I prefer many of the interpretations of Adam Fischer over those of Antal Dorati. It is not just the modernity of the recordings but I feel that this conductor has gotten the spirit of Haydn into his blood - and that of his most excellent orchestra - better than Dorati and many, many others.

Run, don't walk, to purchase this bargain set of some 30 odd discs and you will not be disappointed.

Very, very highly recommended to all aficianados of Haydn symphonies - the ingenuity and constant creatity of tunes of Papa Haydn simply astound!

Timothy Wingate OTTAWA CANADA