Customer Reviews

Haydn: The Creation; Missa Bervis Sti; Missa Sti Nicolai

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

 

 

This recording of Haydn's great oratorio, The Creation, seems to be getting overshadowed by the hype given the Von Karajan recording (which I find inferior to this one in every respect) and to the fame of the Robert Shaw recording (which indeed is excellent). Perhaps the well-deserved five star (*****) ratings of John Eliot Gardiner's German version and Chrstopher Hogwood's English version also obsure notice of Eugen Jochum's splendid reading of the score in this performance. Everything comes out just right according to the warm spirited performance tradition of the Bavarian musicians: the conducting, the orchestra's response, the soloists' presentation of the text, and the singing of the chorus. The only other performance that bests this one by a hair is that of Rafael Kubelik on Orfeo. His soloists are slighter better but the chorus and orchestra are the same. The sound of the Kubelik recording is richer, but the price is higher. I wouldn't be without the Kubelik, the Gardiner or the Hogwood, but I am so very glad to have Eugen Jochum's profoundly spiritual and carefully nuanced reading of this masterpiece available.

The two Haydn Masses also in this CD set are pleasantly performed in the Viennese tradition of Gemuetlichkeit: "charming" is the closest word in English.

Everything is excellent on these recordings. The soloists are the best of their era. Gottlob Frick stands out among them. The tempi and orchestral playing are true to Haydn's intentions. All in all a disc that I will listen to regularly.

It's only 3 bucks but it's a waste if you really want to listen to something of any quality. I first made the mistake of buying the piano only concert (bad move - you need the symphony and choral). THen I made the mistake of buying this POS!! You can hear people coughing and moving and the recording is all scratchy! Rediculous! I have no idea why the other 2 people gave this thing 5 stars. The only reason I'm not giving it one star is because it is one of the most beautiful pieces of all time - just don't buy this recording.