Joseph Haydn Operas 1 [Box Set] [Box set]

Franz Joseph Haydn (Composer), Antal Dorati (Conductor, Performer), Lausanne Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Alan Titus (Performer), Anthony Rolfe Johnson (Performer), Arleen Augér (Performer), Benjamin Luxon (Performer), Claes-Håkan Ahnsjo (Performer), Domenico Trimarchi (Performer), Elly Ameling (Performer), Frederica Von Stade (Performer), Gabor Carelli (Performer), George Shirley (Performer), Gwendolyn Killebrew (Performer), Helen Donath (Performer), Ileana Cotrubas (Performer), Jessye Norman (Performer), Kari Lovaas (Performer), Lucia Valentini Terrani (Performer), Luigi Alva (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Antal Dorati, Alan Titus, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Arleen Augér, Benjamin Luxon, et al.
• Orchestra: Lausanne Chamber Orchestra
• Conductor: Antal Dorati
• Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
• Audio CD (September 12, 2006)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 10
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B00009N2KT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #135,543 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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Editorial Reviews

Volume One (Of 2) of Haydn’s Operas. Sung in Italian. The Two Collectors’ Edition Boxes Will Contain all Eight Operas on Twenty Cds. Haydn’s Operas Are Still Something of a Rarity Both in the Theatre and on Record. Antal Dorati’s Advocacy of Haydn’s Music During the 1970s Resulted in Numerous Award-winning Recordings, Including his Legendary Cycle of all the Symphonies as Well his Series of Operas for Philips. The Eight Opera Recordings were Made with the Orchestre De Chambre De Lausanne During the Late 1970s and Went on to Achieve International Distinction and Acclaim. These Pioneering Recordings also Introduced Many Singers who were in the Early Stages of their Careers. Some of the Names Associated with These Recordings Include Elly Ameling, Arleen Auger, Ileana Cotrubas, Jessye Norman, Samuel Ramey, Anthony Rolfe Johnson and Frederica Von Stade.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dorati's benchmark recordings of Haydn's operas, vol. 1, May 1, 2007

By 

LJM (Earth) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Joseph Haydn Operas 1 [Box Set] (Audio CD)

This bargain box is the first of two sets that collects Antal Dorati's recordings of Haydn operas. The first set collects the recordings from the late seventies (1976-78). These recordings, as is the case with Dorati's other Haydn recordings - the symphonies in particular - are benchmark classics.

For many people, however, Haydn operas are terra incognita. But, in my view, Dorati's admirable interpretations should be included in every serious collection of classical music.

The recording quality is very fine, the orchestra is excellent, and the performances as well as the performers are first rate. Cast includes, among others, Arleen Auger, Elly Ameling, Frederica von Stade, Ileana Cotrubas, Helen Donath, Jessye Norman, Claes H. Ahnsjö, and Anthony Rolfe Johnson. The orchestra is Orchestre de Chambere de Lausanne.

The operas in this first volume are the following:

Armida (1784)
La fedeltà premiata (1781)
Orlando paladino (1782)
La vera costanza (1779).

Unfortunately, the booklet has only brief notes on each opera and plot synopsis, no libretti.

Warmly recommended!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hidden gems, July 12, 2009

By 

Sid Nuncius (London) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Joseph Haydn Operas 1 [Box Set] (Audio CD)

This two-volume set is a delight. I am a big fan of Haydn's music, but until fairly recently I didn't even know that he had written any operas. I came across this set comprising eight operas over the two volumes and took a chance on the basis that I couldn't go too far wrong buying twenty discs of Haydn's music by first-rate musicians for a very reasonable price. I was right.

If you know Dorati's Haydn symphony cycle you will know that he's a brilliant Haydn conductor. In the operas as in the symphonies he gets exactly the right balance of structure, melody and emotion and that knowing Haydn twinkle emerges in all the right places. The orchestra is excellent and the singers include Jessye Norman, Arleen Auger, Elly Ameling, Benjamin Luxon, Anthony Rolfe Johnson... Even the less well-known singers seem to these ears to be really excellent and the combination of Haydn's music and these performers produces something really special in places.

In my view, many of Haydn's works - the symphonies, mass settings, string quartets and piano trios, for example - are at least the equal of Mozart's. As entire works, the same cannot be said of the operas. The plots, even by the very forgiving standards of opera, are largely fatuous and there is a lot of recitative which (although true opera buffs will disapprove of this) I find extremely tedious. However, I programme my CD player to cut out the recitative and what emerges is some truly wonderful vocal and choral writing, magnificently performed. These operas may not be dramatic masterpieces but they contain a wealth of magnificent and sadly neglected music.

At this price in slimline format there is no libretto included, but you do get a synopsis of each opera with references to the relevant track numbers, which is largely enough, I found. The packaging is attractive and the notes informative and very interesting. Minor reservations aside, I am delighted with these sets and get very great pleasure from them. I am sure you will too if you like Haydn or Mozart. In addition, they are a monumental bargain and I recommend them very highly.