Search - Haydn, Bohm :: Haydn: Symphonies No. 88, 89, & 92 'Oxford' (Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra/Karl Boehm)

Wonderful!

Lance Friedel | Warwick, RI USA | 04/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the finest Haydn records ever made. The Vienna Philharmonic sounds glorious, and Bohm's conducting is both relaxed and vital. We get the best of old-world charm and modern sound quality. Exposition repeats are observed, and critical editions are used throughout. The music just unfolds in the most natural way, and the wit and warmth of these wonderful symphonies (three of Haydn's best) will bring a smile to any listener's face. With 1-1/2 LPs worth of music (over 75 minutes), this is an unbeatable bargain. Bravo!"

Patrician Anti-HIP Haydn

Moldyoldie | Motown, USA | 06/15/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What the hell, why not get a periodic dose of a perennial favorite, Haydn's Symphony No 88, as well as a couple others which he composed in that transitional period between extended stints in Paris and London. These are meaty, high calorie "big band" performances with the refined intonations of modern instruments and the noble, patrician conducting of Karl Böhm. I'll say this much right off the bat, Deutsche Grammophon's 1970s era analog recordings with Böhm and the Vienna Philharmonic were some of the finest I've ever heard; his '70s Beethoven Symphony cycle is one of the best for detailed, rich, and vibrant sound; even if his somewhat measured foursquare tempos weren't to all tastes. These Haydn symphonies are performed in the same refined, stately manner. There isn't the flat-out excitement and exuberance found in latter day HIP (Historically Informed Performance) and period instrument performances, but the grasp of the music's architecture is truly amazing, the instrumental details all aglow! The largo movement of No. 88 is s-l-o-w and grand. The rest is taken similarly in its own sweet time, allowing Haydn's notes to spring forth exquisitely and inevitably. This isn't the way I always like to hear this music, but one can still luxuriate in the pure sound of it all."