BaL 2.03.24 - Haydn: Symphony no. 100 in G "Military"

[Cockney Sparrow]

SPOILER ALERT - if you don't want to know the selected performance (I'll be listening later this afternoon).

Per the page on Sounds (set out, on far right, below):

Handel and Haydn Society Orchestra
Harry Christophers (conductor)
Coro COR16181

[Alison]

Not so surprising perhaps with our Sir Velo flagging up winner and Heighesy odds on to go HIPP.

[Sir Velo]

Not so surprising perhaps with our Sir Velo flagging up winner and Heighesy odds on to go HIPP.

Should have gone to the bookies and had a flutter on that pairing. Think we would have got very good odds!

[MickyD]

A surprising result, but not an unreasonable one. Personally, I’m a big fan of the runner-up, Minkowski’s set of all of the London symphonies.

But can you live with his "Surprise" symphony on repeated hearings?

[Alison]

Only four responses post library build, maybe some sort of record. Has the apathy around the programme already started with the ridiculous afternoon slot pending?

[silvestrione]

Only four responses post library build, maybe some sort of record. Has the apathy around the programme already started with the ridiculous afternoon slot pending?

To be honest, I took away the impression this was one of his more forgettable symphonies. And I don't always mind the two-person format, but on this occasion A McG drove me mad...

[Goon525]

But can you live with his "Surprise" symphony on repeated hearings?

Well, here’s the thing. It’s disqualified itself as a library choice, but I’d only listen to this symphony once every five or ten years, so it’s quite fun to be surprised by such a surprising….er surprise.

Back to 100, I’ve just listened to Christopher’s, much enjoyed it, reminding me why I love Haydn’s music so much. Can’t ask much more than that.

[MickyD]

I understand your reasoning ! It's a bit like Harnoncourt's Paris symphonies set...not for repeated listening, but fun to hear every so often.

[LMcD]

Only four responses post library build, maybe some sort of record. Has the apathy around the programme already started with the ridiculous afternoon slot pending?

Possibly a reflection of the level of interest in Haydn symphonies in general and this one in particular?

[Barbirollians]

Strange though it was a HIPP winner he seemed to like in particular the very noisy percussion which he seemed to admit included a number of instruments not in the score .

Was Colin Davis even mentioned ?

[mikealdren]

Yes, IIRC Colin Davis was the first to be considered.

[Goon525]

Strange though it was a HIPP winner he seemed to like in particular the very noisy percussion which he seemed to admit included a number of instruments not in the score .

Was Colin Davis even mentioned ?

Admired early on as an example of good old big band Haydn. If I wanted that approach, the Davis set is certainly very fine - but it is rather leaden-footed, occasionally sluggish, compared with Minkowski and Christophers.

[richardfinegold]

I liked the Christopher with the Turkish Percussion. It put me in the mind of the Mozart VC with the Turkish Episode

[MickyD]

Odd that Heighes dismissed Kuijken's harpsichord continuo choice - London instrument makers were still producing large harpsichords at that time and I don't see why it might not have been used. Whether you like it or not is another matter.