Bruno Weil and Tafelmusik present a vibrant, joyful collecti
Mike Birman | Brooklyn, New York USA | 11/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Originally released as separate CDs these splendid performances of some of Haydn's best known pre-London symphonies have been assembled into a box set collection at long last. Many of these symphonies have been out of print for awhile so their re-release is a cause for celebration since these performances are splendid in every way.
Tempos are fleet but without a loss of expressiveness or emotion. Historically informed performance practice insures that vibrato is minimized and that textures are transparent. Haydn's brilliant writing is easy to appreciate since each orchestral melodic line played by period instruments is crisply distinct and crystal clear. There is a real sense of joy in the way that Tafelmusik performs these works. The Paris Symphonies (Nos. 82-87) are especially fun to listen to as each effervescent performance proves just how far Haydn had evolved this relatively young genre that he had essentially created. There is a real sense of grandeur and celebration surrounding these greatly enlarged symphonies. They were meant to convey a sense of occasion and Tafelmusik does exactly that.
Haydn is the father of symphonic music and I can think of no better way of observing the growth in his creative maturity than listening to this generous sampling of his symphonies. The sound of these recordings is exemplary with a soft reverberant bloom surrounding the orchestra. Strings and woodwinds are especially well recorded, sounding bright and warm. This is a superb collection that every lover of Haydn's music should enjoy.
Mike Birman"
