Haydn: Symphonies 1, 96, 101, & documentary "Norrington: between Stuttgart and Berkshire"

I read reviews by other people which were rated high but criticizing off the main point, such as Norrington is very fussy to stick to the classic music. Well this is what Hayden is about. I bought it and I really like it. So I volunteer to write my review. The conductor is an avid lover of classic symphonies but he also conducts other music pieces and does well. This Haydn collection was played with the best effort to play these classical pieces as closely as the pieces were played at that period. So the strings and winds were played without vibrato. One reviewer had made a comment it's dull, but some people may like it, I (the reviewer) wasn't excited. I wrote to offer my rebuttal, the return to the classic of the long time before we were born is a welcomed experience. We heard these video together with many guests, elder people, they commented, Oh that was good, in good taste. This is not an advertisement. I am a professor and 81 years old.

Haydn symphonies are rare enough in DVD--at least with first-rate sound--that these performances are something to be grateful for. Norrington clearly enjoys conducting this music, the orchestra clearly enjoys playing for him, and the audience clearly enjoys what they're hearing. You will too.

I have fond memories of attending rehearsals of Ma Vlast and then interviewing Sir Roger. Everything he does is simply outstanding and this recording is no exception

At first I was not planning on rating this DVD 5 stars. However, after a watching it a little more, I changed my mind. Roger Norrington is one of the most controversial conductors in the world today. The reason: he does not use vibrato in his recordings. He believes that vibrato was something that 20th century conductors came up with to give their orchestras a much richer sound. He could be right, although I prefer vibrato in most romantic and even some classical era repertoire. Nevertheless, the performances on this DVD are really splendid with beautiful orchestral playing.Maestro Norrington's tempos in both slow movements is faster than any other interpretation I have ever heard. However, in my opinion, it works quite well, especially the famous "clock" slow movement in Symphony No. 101. I hope Maestro Norrington videotapes all of the Haydn London Symphonies and then move on to the "Paris" symphonies and also 88-92.This DVD also includes an unconducted performance of Haydn's very first symphony. I found this performance to be quite ordinary. It needed the conductor. As an extra, the DVD also included a feature on Maestro Norrington. It was really excellent.

Sir Roger Norrington is at his very best in the Vienna classical repertoire. His recordings of the complete Beethoven symphonies with the Stuttgart RSO (on CD, 2003) are superb and at the top of my own list of favorites. His ultra-lean, no-vibrato, desiccated approach to the Romantics, however, may or may not be to everyone's taste: listen for example to his 2006 set of Brahms symphonies on DVD. The Haydn DVD is perfect in every respect: wonderful ensemble full of joy and vigor, orchestral transparency, exquisite solo work by the musicians, and the Stuttgart Sound in top form. Film and audio are excellent. Norrington's interpretations of the symphonies 96 and 101 are most convincing: both playful and serious with every nuance brought to the fore. The bonuses are fine too: the symphony nr. 1 as played by a small group of the Stuttgart musicians (a birthday present for Sir Roger's 75th) and an appealing film by Karl Thumm, "Sir Roger Norrington: A Conductor between Stuttgart and Berkshire." All this adds up to a splendid anniversary production as well as to an irresistible disk for fans of Haydn, Norrington and the Stuttgarters.

pochi dvd e cd di buone esecuzioni di Haydn ci sono in circolazione rispetto a un musicista che ha creato tanto, con notevole considerazione all'epoca. Andrebbe rivalutato ed eseguito con maggiore frequenza. L'esecuzione è apprezzabile e piacevole

Die Londoner Sinfonien von Joseph Haydn sind mir seit meiner Kindheitsehr geläufig.Als ich durch einen Bekannten die Möglichkeit hatteeinen MP3-Download (CD der Woche beim Südwestrundfunk)der SinfonieNr. 101 "Die Uhr" zu hören, war ich von der ersten Sekunde an gefesselt.Komplett überrascht war ich beim berühmten Andante,aus deren tick tackartigem Bass sich der Name der Sinfonie ableitet. In dieser Art,vor allem in diesem Tempo hatte ich diesen Satz noch nie gehört.Norringtons Dirigat besticht durch seine Klarheit und vor allem durchseinen Witz, was durchaus im Sinne Haydn ist.Durch diese Interpretationwird einem erst die Genialität der Haydnschen Musik voll bewusst.Deshalb halte ich diese DVD mit den Haydn Sinfonien Nr.1, 96 und 101für eine echte Bereicherung der Haydn Diskographie im Jubiläumsjahr.Für Liebhaber der Haydnschen Musik ist diese DVD eine Pflicht.

Das Selbstego des Herrn Norrington ist nicht zu übertreffen. Ob hierunter die Qualität der gespielten Musik leidet, ist schwer auszumachen. Auch ohne sein Dirigat klingt das Orchester außergewöhnlich.