Album

This four-disc set featuring Claudio Abbado and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe performing seven of Haydn's symphonies, an opera overture, and the Sinfonia concertante collects all Abbado's excellent Haydn recordings for Deutsche Grammophon and is also a sad reminder of how much was lost when that company didn't record more of the composer's work with the great Italian conductor. Like his readings of works by Mozart and Beethoven, Abbado's performances of Haydn are crisp, clean, direct, and unaffected. They are also wonderfully expressive without being sentimental, propulsive without feeling rushed, and ideally balanced between line and harmony. Haydn is not treated either as a rustic Mozart or a puny Beethoven, but with the respect, honor, and affection he deserves as a strong-willed, clear-eyed composer with a delicious sense of humor and a deep and abiding sense of humanity. All the performances, from the agile "Miracle" Symphony to the magisterial "Military" Symphony," are hugely impressive. The digital sound is clear, colorful, and vivid.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1 of 4
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.93 in D, Hob.I:93 Work Recorded 1989 22:18 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
1	1.Adagio. Allegro assai	7:46			$1.49
2	2.Largo cantabile	5:06			$0.99
3	3.Menuetto: Allegro	4:11			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Presto ma non troppo	5:15			$0.99
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.101 in D ('Clock'), Hob.I:101 Work Recorded 1988 26:26 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
5	1.Adagio. Presto	8:03			$1.49
6	2.Andante	7:39			$1.49
7	3.Menuetto and Trio: Allegretto	6:18			$0.99
8	4.Finale: Vivace	4:26			$0.99
CD 2 of 4
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.96 in D ('Miracle'), Hob.I:96 Work Recorded 1986 22:13 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
1	1.Adagio. Allegro	7:09			$1.49
2	2.Andante	6:20			$0.99
3	3.Menueto e Trio: Allegretto	5:18			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Vivace assai	3:26			$0.99
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Sinfonia Concertante for violin, cello, oboe, bassoon, and orchestra, Hob.I:105 Work Recorded 1986 20:24 Matthew Wilkie Bassoon, Marieke Blankenstijn Violin, William Conway Cello, Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra, Douglas Boyd Oboe
5	1.Allegro	9:06			$1.49
6	2.Andante	4:59			$0.99
7	3.Allegro con spirito	6:19			$0.99
CD 3 of 4
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Il Mondo della Luna, Hob.XXVIII:7 (opera)...Act 1 Work Recorded 1993 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
1	1.Sinfonia	4:02			$0.99
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.98 in Bb, Hob.I:98 Work Recorded 1993 27:40 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
2	1.Adagio. Allegro	8:33			$1.49
3	2.Adagio cantabile	6:26			$0.99
4	3.Menuetto e Trio: Allegro	5:05			$0.99
5	4.Finale: Presto	7:36			$1.49
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.100 in G ('Military'), Hob.I:100 Work Recorded 1992 23:33 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
6	1.Adagio. Allegro	7:51			$1.49
7	2.Allegretto	5:49			$0.99
8	3.Menuet and Trio	4:47			$0.99
9	4.Finale. Presto	5:06			$0.99
CD 4 of 4
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.102 in Bb, Hob.I:102 Work Recorded 1994 24:31 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
1	1.Largo. Allegro vivace	9:08			$1.49
2	2.Adagio	5:44			$0.99
3	3.Menuetto: Allegro	4:59			$0.99
4	4.Finale: Presto	4:40			$0.99
(Franz) Joseph Haydn Composer Symphony No.103 in Eb ('Drum Roll'), Hob.I:103 Work Recorded 1995 29:10 Claudio Abbado Conductor, Chamber Orchestra of Europe Orchestra
5	1.Adagio. Allegro con spirito	9:04			$1.49
6	2.Andante più tosto allegretto	9:58			$1.49
7	3.Menuetto	4:53			$0.99
8	4.Finale: Allegro con spirito	5:15			$0.99