| biography |
| Haydn
(1732-1809) perfected both the symphony and the string quartet and
was also a prolific composer of operas and choral works. He was
revered by Mozart and a significant influence on Beethoven, whom
he taught. Haydn's sense of invention and humor are trademarks of
his style. Here are his essential recordings. |
| recommended
recordings |
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Haydn:
Symphonies 92, 94 & 96 / Szell, Cleveland Orchestra
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Composer:
Franz
Joseph Haydn
Conductor: George
Szell
Ensemble: Cleveland
Orchestra
Sony Classics - #46332 / April 9, 1991
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here for more information
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Like so many great Mozart conductors, Gyšrgy Szell came to
Haydn rather late in his career, but then found himself captivated
by the music's wholly unique genius. Where Mozart likes long-breathed
themes and balanced musical structures, Haydn prefers short,
catchy motives and is a master of the unexpected. His orchestration,
too, is sharper and more rhythmically defined than Mozart's
is, with very free use of trumpets and drums. These three
"name" symphonies represent Haydn at his best,...Read
more
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Haydn:
String Quartets, Op 76 no 1-3 / Kodaly Quartet
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Composer:
Franz
Joseph Haydn
Performer: J‡nos
Devich, Attila
Falvay, et al.
Ensemble: Kod‡ly
String Quartet
Naxos - #550314 / October 20, 1992
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here for more information
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Until recently, the Kodaly Quartet has not been very well
known outside its native Hungary, although they have won several
awards, performed at numerous concerts throughout eastern
Europe, and recorded for the Naxos label for several years.
One of this chamber music ensemble's most notable achievements
for Naxos is a complete cycle of string quartets composed
by Joseph Haydn. This CD contains the first three of Haydn's
"Erdody" quartets, Op. 76. (They were named for
Count Erdody, to whom Haydn dedicated them.) Many music critics
consider the "Erdody" quartets to be the finest
of the 83 Haydn composed during his long life. The Kodaly
Quartet performs them with tremendous enthusiasm, vitality,
and an obvious enjoyment of the music. Fast movements are
lightly sprung, slow movements are played with just the right
touch of gravity, and "menuettos" rollick merrily
along. Especially enjoyable for its hauntingly beautiful melody
is the second movement - "poco adagio, cantabile"
- of Op. 76 No. 3 , the "Emperor" Quartet. Throughout
all three of the quartets on this disc, Haydn's sunny, optimistic
disposition and his tremendous musical originality and inventiveness
shine through. |
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Haydn:
The Creation / Herbert von Karajan |
Composer:
Franz
Joseph Haydn
Conductor: Herbert
von Karajan
Performer: Walter
Berry, Dietrich
Fischer-Dieskau, et al.
Ensemble: Berlin
Philharmonic Orchestra
Uni/Deutsche Grammophon - #449761 / January 27, 1998
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here for more information |
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This classic performance of Haydn's greatest choral masterpiece
was beloved tenor Fritz Wunderlich's last recording. He sings
all of the arias, but he died before finishing the recitatives,
which are here taken by Werner Krenn. The recording is, in
addition, one of Herbert von Karajan's finest, vastly better
than his later digital remake. His interpretation is straightforward
and impressively large in scale, but never pompous or sanctimonious
(which was Karajan's big problem in music of a...Read
more
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Haydn:
Three Favorite Concertos / Ma, Marsalis, Lin |
Composer:
Franz
Joseph Haydn
Conductor: JosŽ
Luis Garcia, Raymond
Leppard, et al.
Performer: Yo-Yo
Ma, Wynton
Marsalis, et al.
Ensemble: English
Chamber Orchestra, National
Philharmonic Orchestra London, et al.
Sony Classics - #39310 / January 1, 1987
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here for more information |
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This excellent disc brings together three superb performances
of three of Haydn's best concertos. As a composer, Haydn wasn't
really interested in the concerto as a form. He was the inventor
of the classical symphony, and the entire orchestra was his
instrument. For although he played violin, viola, keyboard,
and timpani, he wasn't known as an outstanding virtuoso on
any of them. This makes him the first truly professional composer
(as opposed to a performer who composed) in the history of...Read
more
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| works
& recordings |
- Chamber
Music
Trios, Quartets, Quintets
- Choral
Secular and sacred choral music. Oratorios, Masses, Partsongs,
Hymns, Carols
- Instrumental
Sonatas, Suites, Overtures, Minuets, Variations, Transcriptions,
Dance Music
- Orchestra
Concertos, Symphonies
- Theatrical
Works
Ballet, Stage, Incidental Music, Film Scores
- Vocal
and Opera
Opera, Operetta, Song, Lieder, Musical Theater
Complete
List of Works and Recordings
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| resources |
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