I used to have a 1920s Barbirolli recording of this on a Barbirolli Society LP. I am not sure it was this one though. The label named the orchestra as the Barbirolli Chamber Orchestra. That does not matter. I loved that record, and it got worn out from use! Barbirolli was always a highly sensitive musician who leads the music as if he really cares about it. That is not to rule out the muscularity that is very much part of Haydn's musical make up, and to my mind this is a splendid blend of the muscular and tender. That is all Haydn really needs to shine, and so often these days mannered and outré readings of the music tend to fail. Haydn's music is wonderfully crafted and brilliant in both form and structure, and does not require any special pleading or perfume to move the listener. Indeed, an over fussy approach actually can almost fatally undermine the thrust and energy inherent in the music and disrupt its formal logic. As music making this is exemplary in my view. There is another recording of this from Edwin Fischer also with a smaller orchestra than the average Brahms sized symphony orchestra, and it would be extremely hard for me to choose between this and Fischer's recording. Of recordings made with larger forces I have a strong preference for Klemperer's astonishing performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra. It does major more on muscularity and seriousness than joi die vivre, but the music can be taken differently and still shine through. What it cannot take is being micro-managed. Thank you and best wishes from George
@georgejohnson1498 The Barbirolli Chamber Orchestra version was in fact slightly later, recorded by The Gramophone Company on 1 March 1928. I don't recall having come across that version, but this one is certainly very well done.
@@vintagesounds3878 I started it without noting the orchestra, and the balance is subtly different from what I remembered. The cello and bass are slightly firmer and the flute more forward in the HMV recording, which made me look at the date and performers. As a performance from about a year later, it should be no surprise that the overall approach is not noticeably different. Thanks for the information. If you do find a set on the HMV discs, it would certainly be worth transferring, if you had the wish to work on two such similar recordings. In a way there is a fascination in that as well. Thanks and best wishes from George PS: I was fairly sure that you had transferred Edwin Fischer's recording of this, and a quick search bring me your terrific transfer of that! th-cam.com/video/XQkn6x5olsg/w-d-xo.html
An early Barbirolli sounding fresh & very good indeed. Thank you very much, VS.
I used to have a 1920s Barbirolli recording of this on a Barbirolli Society LP. I am not sure it was this one though. The label named the orchestra as the Barbirolli Chamber Orchestra. That does not matter. I loved that record, and it got worn out from use!
Barbirolli was always a highly sensitive musician who leads the music as if he really cares about it. That is not to rule out the muscularity that is very much part of Haydn's musical make up, and to my mind this is a splendid blend of the muscular and tender. That is all Haydn really needs to shine, and so often these days mannered and outré readings of the music tend to fail. Haydn's music is wonderfully crafted and brilliant in both form and structure, and does not require any special pleading or perfume to move the listener. Indeed, an over fussy approach actually can almost fatally undermine the thrust and energy inherent in the music and disrupt its formal logic.
As music making this is exemplary in my view. There is another recording of this from Edwin Fischer also with a smaller orchestra than the average Brahms sized symphony orchestra, and it would be extremely hard for me to choose between this and Fischer's recording.
Of recordings made with larger forces I have a strong preference for Klemperer's astonishing performance with the Philharmonia Orchestra. It does major more on muscularity and seriousness than joi die vivre, but the music can be taken differently and still shine through. What it cannot take is being micro-managed.
Thank you and best wishes from George
@georgejohnson1498 The Barbirolli Chamber Orchestra version was in fact slightly later, recorded by The Gramophone Company on 1 March 1928. I don't recall having come across that version, but this one is certainly very well done.
@@vintagesounds3878 I started it without noting the orchestra, and the balance is subtly different from what I remembered. The cello and bass are slightly firmer and the flute more forward in the HMV recording, which made me look at the date and performers. As a performance from about a year later, it should be no surprise that the overall approach is not noticeably different.
Thanks for the information. If you do find a set on the HMV discs, it would certainly be worth transferring, if you had the wish to work on two such similar recordings. In a way there is a fascination in that as well.
Thanks and best wishes from George
PS: I was fairly sure that you had transferred Edwin Fischer's recording of this, and a quick search bring me your terrific transfer of that!
th-cam.com/video/XQkn6x5olsg/w-d-xo.html
@georgejohnson1498 It's a great symphony!
earliest recording of this???? thank you for posting!!!!
@@rutgervangestel Yes, the first recording of this symphony.