A reissue including two of the greatest Haydn readings ever.
DanM@Aiken.SC.Edu | 10/27/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The awful U.S.Decca lp pressings could not tarnish these great Rosbaud performances.He combined a laserlike ability to clarify the score with tremendous grace,energy, and feeling.Try the third movement trio and the fourth movement coda of 104- both of which have always struck me as Haydn's poignant farewells to the symphony-for examples of this rare combination of conducting skills. The Mozart was originally coupled in the U.S. with a WS/BPO Mozart 5th concerto conducted by Ferdinand Leitner. The #4 is very fine, especially in a quite bouyant third movement. I can enjoy the rest, but would like a slightly quicker first movement. Rivals: Szell/Cleveland/Sony in 92 and both Jochum(DGG) and Colin Davis (Philips)in 104. Grumiaux/Davis (Philips) are a bit livelier in the first movement of the Mozart. Summing up: this is a desert island disc"