Haydn - Classical Music
Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 - 92
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 1
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2
Haydn: Symphonies #99-104; Sir Thomas Beecham; Royal Philharmonic

Someone once commented on the "sulphurous devilishness" of Haydn's surprises in the London symphonies. But it should come as no surprise that one of the best recordings of these works is from Sir Colin Davis, whose accounts with the Concertgebouw Orchestra stand among the most exalted phonographic accomplishments of recent years. There is a Beechamesque quality to these readings, and when it comes to Haydn, that is praise indeed. They are exceptionally personable, characterful, likable interpretations, with wit, warmth, and life in every measure. All 12 symphonies are wonderfully played and very well recorded. At full price, these recordings would be a top choice; as midprice offerings, three symphonies to a disc (averaging more than 75 minutes of music each), they're a steal. --Ted Libbey - $11.67
Haydn: The London Symphonies, Vol. 2
Bach - Mass in B minor / Argenta, Nichols, Chance, Stafford, Milner, W. Evans, Gardiner
Mozart Edition: Complete Works (170 CD Box Set)
Beethoven Edition: Complete Works (85CD Box Set)
Bach Edition: Complete Works (155 CD Box Set)
Haydn: The "Sturm und Drang" Symphonies [Box Set]
Mendelssohn: 5 Symphonies; 7 Overtures
Haydn: The Creation / Herbert von Karajan
Beethoven - The Complete String Quartets / Alban Berg Quartet

This classic performance of Haydn's greatest choral masterpiece was beloved tenor Fritz Wunderlich's last recording. He sings all of the arias, but he died before finishing the recitatives, which are here taken by Werner Krenn. The recording is, in addition, one of Herbert von Karajan's finest, vastly better than his later digital remake. His interpretation is straightforward and impressively large in scale, but never pompous or sanctimonious (which was Karajan's big problem in music of a religious character). The truth is, Haydn's consistently fresh and unpretentious invention acts as a positive anesthetic against bombast, and the composer himself once said that thinking of the Creator always made him irresistibly cheerful. With The Creation, Haydn returned the favor. --David Hurwitz - $17.68
Beethoven - Missa Solemnis · Mozart - Coronation Mass / Karajan
Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem [A German Requiem]
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 76, Nos. 4, 5 and 6
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 20 "Sun", Nos. 4-6
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 33 "Russian", No. 3 "The Bird", 4 and 6
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 33 "Russian", No. 1, No. 2 "The Joke", No. 5 "How do you do?"