HERMANN SCHERCHEN CONDUCTS HAYDN
Vienna State Opera Orch/Vienna Symphony Orch/"Philharmonic Symphony Orch"/Hermann Scherchen, cond.
Seven CDs of early '50's recordings of Haydn symphonies:

SDA HCD 1
Symphony No. 88 in G.  Symphony No. 92 in G "Oxford."  (Vienna State Opera Orch/from Westminster LP XWN 18616)   Symphony No. 100 in G "Military."  Royal Philharmonic Orch. ("Philharmonic Symphony Orch. of London") --from Westminster LP W-LAB 7024)
SDA HCD 2
Symphony No. 93 in D.  Symphony No. 94 in G "Surprise" (Vienna State Opera Orch/from Westminster LP WN 6601).  Symphony No. 95 in C Minor (Vienna Symphony Orch/from Westminster LP WL 5045)
SDA HCD 3
Symphony No. 96 in D "Miracle."  Symphony No. 98 in B Flat (Vienna State Opera Orch/from Westminster LP WN 6601).  Symphony No. 97 in C (Vienna State Opera Orch/from Westminster LP WN 6601)
SDA HCD 4
Symphony No. 80 in D Minor (Vienna Symphony Orch/from Westminster LP 5050).  Symphony No. 99 in E Flat (Vienna State Opera Orch/from Westminster LP WL 5102).   Symphony No. 100 in G "Military" (Vienna Symphony Orch/from Westminster LP 5045)
SDA HCD 5
Symphony No. 101 in D "The Clock" (Vienna State Opera Orch/from Westminster LP 51022).  Symphony No. 102 in B Flat (Vienna Symphony Orch/ from Westminster LP WN 6601).
SDA HCD 6
Symphony No. 103 in E Flat "Drum Roll."   Symphony No. 104 in D "London." (Vienna Symphony Orch/from Westminster LP WN 6601).
SDA HCD 7
Symphony No. 44 in E Minor "Trauer."  Symphony No. 49 in F Minor "La Passione."  (Vienna Symphony Orch/from Westminster LP XWN 18613). Symphony No. 55 in E Flat "The Schoolmaster" (Vienna Symphony Orch/from Westminster LP WL 5066).

These Haydn recordings from the early '50s are worthy remnants of the early days of LP. At the time Westminster/Nixa worked with distinguished conductor Hermann Scherchen on a number of projects ranging from Mahler symphonies and the first totally complete recording of Gliere's Ilya Murometz through Beethoven, Berlioz and a group of Haydn symphonies.  Eighteen of the latter are to be heard on these seven CDs all of which have been carefully processed from fine copies of the original LPs (the "Military" was taken from the acclaimed Westminster deluxe Lab Series LP) using latest technology to remove surface disturbances without compromising sound quality.   In these performances on occasion it's obvious rehearsal time was limited, but Scherchen's rugged no-nonsense approach is always invigorating.  For many of today's collectors these recordings were their introduction to Haydn symphonies.  Without question finest of the batch is the 1956 "Military" recorded with the "Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of London," actually the Royal Philharmonic. In this recording engineers seem to be exploring to the fullest latest improvements in recording; surely the "military" effects are a bit overdone -- but they are remembered!  Collectors will welcome these fine private CDs of performances which perhaps some day also will be issued from original master tapes.  In the meantime, here they are, $10 for each CD including US  mailing, $65 for all seven.  To order contact  ppaquin@mediaone.net or go to the Sound Dynamics Associates website:  www.sd-associates.com.

R.E.B. (Aug. 2001)