Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Symphony No. 35 in B flat major, H. 1/35: 1. Allegro di molto
2. Symphony No. 35 in B flat major, H. 1/35: 2. Andante
3. Symphony No. 35 in B flat major, H. 1/35: 3. Menuet: Un poco Allegretto
4. Symphony No. 35 in B flat major, H. 1/35: 4. Finale: Presto
5. Symphony No. 38 in C major, H. 1/38: 1. Allegro di molto
6. Symphony No. 38 in C major, H. 1/38: 2. Andante molto
7. Symphony No. 38 in C major, H. 1/38: 3. Menuet: Allegro
8. Symphony No. 38 in C major, H. 1/38: 4. Finale: Allegro di molto
9. Symphony No. 39 in G minor ('The Fist'), H. 1/39: 1. Allegro assai
10. Symphony No. 39 in G minor ('The Fist'), H. 1/39: 2. Andante
11. Symphony No. 39 in G minor ('The Fist'), H. 1/39: 3. Menuet
12. Symphony No. 39 in G minor ('The Fist'), H. 1/39: 4. Finale: Allegro di molto
13. Symphony No. 59 in A major ('Fire'), H. 1/59: 1. Presto
14. Symphony No. 59 in A major ('Fire'), H. 1/59: 2. Andante
15. Symphony No. 59 in A major ('Fire'), H. 1/59: 3. Menuetto
16. Symphony No. 59 in A major ('Fire'), H. 1/59: 4. Allegro assai

Disc 2:

1. Symphony No. 26 in D minor ('Lamentatione'), H. 1/26: 1. Allegro assai con spirito
2. Symphony No. 26 in D minor ('Lamentatione'), H. 1/26: 2. Adagio
3. Symphony No. 26 in D minor ('Lamentatione'), H. 1/26: 3. Menuet
4. Symphony No. 49 in F minor ('La passione'), H. 1/49: 1. Adagio
5. Symphony No. 49 in F minor ('La passione'), H. 1/49: 2. Allegro di molto
6. Symphony No. 49 in F minor ('La passione'), H. 1/49: 3. Menuet
7. Symphony No. 49 in F minor ('La passione'), H. 1/49: 4. Finale: Presto
8. Symphony No. 58 in F major, H. 1/58: 1. Allegro
9. Symphony No. 58 in F major, H. 1/58: 2. Andante
10. Symphony No. 58 in F major, H. 1/58: 3. Menuet
11. Symphony No. 58 in F major, H. 1/58: 4. Finale: Presto

Disc 3:

1. Symphony No. 41 in C major, H. 1/41: 1. Allegro con spirito
2. Symphony No. 41 in C major, H. 1/41: 2. Un poco Andante
3. Symphony No. 41 in C major, H. 1/41: 3. Menuet
4. Symphony No. 41 in C major, H. 1/41: 4. Finale: Presto
5. Symphony No. 48 in C major ('Maria Theresia'), H. 1/48: 1. Allegro
6. Symphony No. 48 in C major ('Maria Theresia'), H. 1/48: 2. Adagio
7. Symphony No. 48 in C major ('Maria Theresia'), H. 1/48: 3. Menuet: Allegretto
8. Symphony No. 48 in C major ('Maria Theresia'), H. 1/48: 4. Finale: Allegro
9. Symphony No. 65 in A major, H. 1/65: 1. Vivace e con spirito
10. Symphony No. 65 in A major, H. 1/65: 2. Andante
11. Symphony No. 65 in A major, H. 1/65: 3. Menuetto
12. Symphony No. 65 in A major, H. 1/65: 4. Finale: Presto

Disc 4:

1. Symphony No. 43 in E flat major ('Mercury'), H. 1/43: 1. Allegro
2. Symphony No. 43 in E flat major ('Mercury'), H. 1/43: 2. Adagio
3. Symphony No. 43 in E flat major ('Mercury'), H. 1/43: 3. Menuetto
4. Symphony No. 43 in E flat major ('Mercury'), H. 1/43: 4. Finale: Allegro
5. Symphony No. 51 in B flat major, H. 1/51: 1. Vivace
6. Symphony No. 51 in B flat major, H. 1/51: 2. Adagio
7. Symphony No. 51 in B flat major, H. 1/51: 3. Menuetto - Trio I & II
8. Symphony No. 51 in B flat major, H. 1/51: 4. Finale: Allegro
9. Symphony No. 52 in C minor, H. 1/52: 1. Allegro assai con brio
10. Symphony No. 52 in C minor, H. 1/52: 2. Andante
11. Symphony No. 52 in C minor, H. 1/52: 3. Menuetto: Allegretto
12. Symphony No. 52 in C minor, H. 1/52: 4. Finale: Presto

Disc 5:

1. Symphony No. 42 in D major, H. 1/42: 1. Moderato e maestoso
2. Symphony No. 42 in D major, H. 1/42: 2. Andantino e cantabile
3. Symphony No. 42 in D major, H. 1/42: 3. Menuet: Allegretto
4. Symphony No. 42 in D major, H. 1/42: 4. Finale: Scherzando e presto
5. Symphony No. 44 in E minor ('Trauer' /'Funeral'/'Letter E'), H. 1/44: 1. Allegro con brio
6. Symphony No. 44 in E minor ('Trauer' /'Funeral'/'Letter E'), H. 1/44: 2. Menuetto: Allegretto (Canone in Diapason)
7. Symphony No. 44 in E minor ('Trauer' /'Funeral'/'Letter E'), H. 1/44: 3. Adagio
8. Symphony No. 44 in E minor ('Trauer' /'Funeral'/'Letter E'), H. 1/44: 4. Finale: Presto
9. Symphony No. 46 in B major, H. 1/46: 1. Vivace
10. Symphony No. 46 in B major, H. 1/46: 2. Poco adagio
11. Symphony No. 46 in B major, H. 1/46: 3. Menuet: Allegretto
12. Symphony No. 46 in B major, H. 1/46: 4. Finale: Presto e scherzando

Disc 6:

1. Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ('Farewell'/'Candle'/'Letter B'), H. 1/45: 1. Allegro assai
2. Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ('Farewell'/'Candle'/'Letter B'), H. 1/45: 2. Adagio
3. Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ('Farewell'/'Candle'/'Letter B'), H. 1/45: 3. Menuet: Allegro
4. Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ('Farewell'/'Candle'/'Letter B'), H. 1/45: 4. Finale: Presto
5. Symphony No. 45 in F sharp minor ('Farewell'/'Candle'/'Letter B'), H. 1/45: 5. Adagio
6. Symphony No. 47 in G major ('The Palindrome'/'Letter L'), H. 1/47: 1. (Allegro)
7. Symphony No. 47 in G major ('The Palindrome'/'Letter L'), H. 1/47: 2. Un poco adagio, cantabile
8. Symphony No. 47 in G major ('The Palindrome'/'Letter L'), H. 1/47: 3. Menuet al Roverso
9. Symphony No. 47 in G major ('The Palindrome'/'Letter L'), H. 1/47: 4. Finale: Presto assai
10. Symphony No. 50 in C major, H. 1/50: 1. Adagio e maestoso - Allegro di molto
11. Symphony No. 50 in C major, H. 1/50: 2. Andante moderato
12. Symphony No. 50 in C major, H. 1/50: 3. Menuet
13. Symphony No. 50 in C major, H. 1/50: 4. Finale: Presto

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30145 in Music
• Released on: 2002-10-08
• Number of discs: 6
• Format: Box set
• Dimensions: .45 pounds

Customer Reviews

Some of the best Haydn, finally back in print!
Pinnock's recordings of Haydn's middle-period "Sturm und Drang" Symphonies (or "Storm and Stress," a term describing the turbulent, explosive impact of much of the music here) are real classics. It's great to have these late-1980's vintage performances in a neatly packaged box set -- 6 CDs in sturdy sleeves, packed in a nicely compact box.

The music is some of my favorite Haydn, and for those who think of the composer as something of a kindly old grandfather will be knocked over by this set. The music was revolutionary for its time: restless, probing, highly passionate and endlessly experimental. In many ways, I prefer the high tensions and bold imagination of these works to Haydn's more popular "Paris" and "London" Symphonies of his more mature years.

Pinnock and the New English Concert were one of the premier period ensembles of their time, and they do this incredible music proudly with alert, energetic performances. To top it off, the CD booklet compiles all of the excellent notes that were part of the original series.

If you're familiar with Haydn only through his later symphonies, this set is guaranteed to give you a different perspective on "Papa" Haydn -- now as an ambitious young man struggling to create something new and radically different, using a prince's orchestra as his laboratory. Fascinating and compelling.

Lively and energetic Haydn - many "surprise" gems here
I find myself turning to this modest box of 6 CDs containing 19 mostly little-known Haydn symphonies far more often than to any other Haydn symphony recordings on my shelf.

The complete cycles I own are certainly great achievements that I would never want to be without. Dorati's magnificent complete cycle (see Amazon asin # B0000042DP) is a classic that has stood the test of time. Brilliant classics has ressurected the Adam Fischer cycle from the Nimbus bankruptcy (see Amazon asin # B00006GA50), though the price is now much higher than it was when Brilliant Classics originally released it in 2002. For some of the more famous symphonies, like the London Symphonies, there are many stellar paerformances, such as the Colin Davis/Concertgebouw recordings available on 2 Philips Duo offerings.

But none of the above, or other unspecified recordings, hold a candle to these Pinnock recordings when it comes to an all around enjoyable musical experience. The Minuets have a swaggering quality that is intoxicating. You'd think Haydn invented dance music. Who needs the Strauss family? The Allegros have vitality about them that brings you to the edge of your seat. And the slower movements have phenomenal penetrating depth and wide ranging dynamics one would never expect from Haydn.

And unlike some critics, I don't think there is anything "unfaithful" to the score about these readings. Pinnock doesn't resort to Stokowski-like modifications or liberalities to make the music come alive. What does come across is that all of the musicians appear to be having fun. And when musicians are having fun like this, you do too.

And for the bargain basement price, this a must have.
Not a Haydn fan? Get this set and you will be.

Pinnock does it again
I have never heard better, more authentic performances of Haydn's middle symphonies. These symphonies are remarkable accomplishments by Haydn and show some of the dynamic energy that you see later in the works of Beethoven. Some of the music has it's quirks and you can detect some influence from C.P.E. Bach's sentimental style in these symphonies.

But mostly, Haydn creates his own particular symphonic style that he continually refines. Though some of these works show experimentation in structure, and in theme development, they are all interesting and fun to listen to.

Pinnock's crew does their usual job of performing accurately and sensitively. I highly recommend this box set.