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F.J. Haydn: Symphonies/Bruggen

David Hurwitz

Artistic Quality:

Sound Quality:

The crowning glory of this collection rests in Frans Brüggen’s marvelous set of the 12 “London” Symphonies. These, along with some of the lesser-known late works, such as Symphonies Nos. 86 and 90 (with its thrilling horn writing), alone justify purchase of this inexpensive 13-disc collection–but really it’s all pretty fine. One of the more anachronistic aspects of the “authentic-instrument” movement has been that works written to be performed without conductor at all (or in collaboration between concertmaster and players) receive the loving ministrations of “specialists” such as Brüggen (and Harnoncourt, for example) whose inclinations in terms of tempo manipulation and expressive phrasing could make a Stokowski blush. And so we find a finale of Symphony No. 88 that’s even slower than Karl Böhm’s, and when you come right down to it, it’s none the worse for the experience: it makes up in charm what it lacks in sheer energy.

If Brüggen has any weakness it lies in the performances of the “Sturm und Drang” symphonies, which are lively enough and quite well played but lack something of the hard driving character the music ideally requires. In this respect, Pinnock’s more aggressive and less interventionist approach (on Archiv) makes a better impression. Compare, for example, the opening of the great C minor symphony (No. 52), where Brüggen is certainly not Allegro assai or terribly “con brio”, despite the beauty of the playing and the aptly grim atmosphere he conjures. Similarly those wonderful horn calls that open the “Maria Theresa” Symphony (No. 48), however skillfully rendered, should ring out triumphantly through their last note: there’s no need to dovetail each phrase with little diminuendos. These are small points, and you can’t deny Brüggen’s elegance of phrasing, but his conception suits the later, more “Romantic” works better. That said, this remains a fine set overall, and an essential addition to any serious Haydn symphony collection.


Recording Details:

Reference Recording: Paris Symphonies: Bernstein (Sony)

JOSEPH HAYDN - 19 "Sturm und Drang" Symphonies; Paris Symphonies; London Symphonies; Symphonies Nos. 88-92; Sinfonia concertante

  • Record Label: Philips - 473 015-2
  • Medium: CD

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