Haydn: Synphonies Nos. 44 ('Trauer'), 95, & 98

Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Ferenc Fricsay (Conductor), RIAS Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: RIAS Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Ferenc Fricsay
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
• Audio CD (July 13, 2004)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Deutsche Grammophon
• ASIN: B0002HACN6
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,735 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Humble, Joyful Greatest of Pleasures, June 29, 2006

By 

J. F. Laurson (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haydn: Synphonies Nos. 44 ('Trauer'), 95, & 98 (Audio CD)

Perhaps the coupling of Haydn's 44th, 95th, and 98th symphonies strikes you as slightly random - a little _Sturm & Drang_ (no. 44, the _Trauersymphonie_ - "Mourning-Symphony"), a little _London_ (nos. 95, 98). Perhaps a 1954 mono recording doesn't obviously kindle your interest or tickle your fancy? And maybe you have not thought much of the short lived (1914-1963) Ferenc Fricsay - apart perhaps from enjoying a wonderful Beethoven or Dvo'ák 9th.

Well, here it is then, to point out that this budged disc from Deutsche Grammophon's Europe-centric "Musik...... Sprache der Welt" collection is an absolute gem and that (at least for those who do not have a Haydn #44 in their collection) there is no reason not to indulge with this recording. The sound quality belies its age (better still than the remastered 58/60 Beecham EMI recordings and better than Audite's live recording recently issued), the playing of the RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin under Fricsay is positively infectious. And "mourning" as may be its title, it is actually an unadulterated joy to listen to; the kind of Angst- and tension-free music that allows you to smile, apprehending only skilled, honest beauty and goodness. It's music with little wings. And a delighting 70 minutes of it.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Semi-rarities in dashing performances, March 9, 2007

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haydn: Synphonies Nos. 44 ('Trauer'), 95, & 98 (Audio CD)

The one-paragraph liner note mentions that Ferenc Fricsay was devoted to Haydn from his student days in Budapest where Haydn, who worked almost his entire life for a Hungarian prince, was considered a household god. In America Haydn is paid lip service as a great master but is rarely performed in concert halls outside a handful of the most popular "London" symphonies. Here in excellent, clear, spacious mono we get three relative rarities. Only sym. 44 the "Trauer" is named, while Sym. 95 and 98 are among the least recorded of the late symphonies.

All three are performed with Fricsay's well-known integrity, energy, and inner life. His RIAS orchestra isn't first-rate but plays very well for him. I've heard Haydn with more temperament and humor from Bernstein and Beecham, but Fricsay, in a leaner, more direct way, achieves a highly musical result. Without fuss this budget CD goes to the top of the list among historical Haydn reissues, along with Bruno Walter and Beecham.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ... if you love Haydn..., July 14, 2004

By 

F. Wooley "rickster94114" (san francisco, ca) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Haydn: Synphonies Nos. 44 ('Trauer'), 95, & 98 (Audio CD)

... you will love this recording; it sings and dances the music in a way that feels so right. I will neither make excuses for it not conforming to the so called "original" or "authentic" strictures of the trend so prevalent in music today, nor the apology of a conductor who for a change, is not before you to impose some new, personal interpretation - no, just fine musicians bringing you a sound reason why Haydn should get more recognition than is given to this composer. For ten dollars, almost seventy minutes of sheer delight. Incidentally, this recording also gives us reason to rejoice in the fact that Deutsche Grammophon continues an excellent job of making available the treasures of its catalogue, in a gimmick and frill-free way, as quality speaks for itself. Give it a try!