Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92, 93, 97-99 London Symphony Orchestra & Sir Colin Davis

• Joseph Haydn (1732–1809): Symphony No 92 in G major Oxford (1789)
• 1 I. Adagio - Allegro spiritoso 08:00
• 2 II. Adagio 07:28
• 3 III. Menuetto: Allegro 05:50
• 4 IV. Presto 06:06
• Symphony No 93 in D major (1791)
• 5 I. Adagio - Allegro assai 08:01
• 6 II. Largo cantabile 05:34
• 7 III. Menuet 03:57
• 8 IV. Finale: Presto ma non troppo 05:34
• Symphony No 97 in C major (1792)
• 9 I. Adagio - Vivace 08:46
• 10 II. Adagio ma non troppo 07:47
• 11 III. Menuet: Allegretto 04:10
• 12 IV. Finale: Presto assai 05:36
• Symphony No 98 in B flat major (1792)
• 13 I. Adagio - Allegro 08:53
• 14 II. Adagio 06:30
• 15 III. Menuet: Allegro 05:14
• 16 IV. Finale: Presto 06:41
• Symphony No 99 in E flat major (1793)
• 17 I. Adagio - Vivace assai 08:53
• 18 II. Adagio 09:26
• 19 III. Menuet: Allegretto 05:34
• 20 IV. Finale: Vivace 04:54
• Total Runtime 02:12:54

Info for Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92, 93, 97-99

The late Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra present a collection of Haydn’s London Symphonies alongside the spirited Oxford Symphony. Sir Colin Davis was long recognised as a pre-eminent Haydn interpreter. During his Indian summer with the orchestra he recorded both 'The Creation' and 'The Seasons' for LSO Live. The symphonies presented here were recorded in 2011 and make for revelatory listening.

Entering a new chapter after the death of Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, Haydn’s forward-looking late symphonies were conceived on a large scale and exude all the hallmarks of the composer’s protean maturity. Surpassing even his own high standards and received to an enormous success, their expressive strength and inventive mastery of form gave his international reputation a substantial boost: Haydn’s contrapuntal mastery and thematic rigour are laid bare for all to see.

“The performance is notably warmer and more personal [than his earlier accounts], it glows with affection for this life-enhancing music...[the Adagio of No. 99] unfolds with a sublime serenity that is quite special...Those who love Haydn should hear this set.” (BBC Music Magazine)

“Sir Colin's affinity with and love for this music is palpable as he (very audibly) hums and sings along, and the hard-bitten LSO have clearly caught the bug too, playing with style and sensitivity for their erstwhile chief.” (Gramophone Magazine)

“An unexpected and wonderful bonus to Colin Davis’s discography…Such affection is immediately established with the beginning of the irrepressible ‘Oxford’ Symphony...This is a release to treasure for great music and magnificent readings…with a conductor who tapped so perceptively and benevolently into this imaginative and indestructible music.” (Classicalsource.com)

London Symphony Orchestra
Sir Colin Davis, conductor

Sir Colin Davis
The traditional road to success for a conductor used to be an apprenticeship in an opera house as a coach, playing the piano for singers in rehearsal. Colin Davis chose another route, partly by necessity. Unable to play the piano, he was not allowed into the conducting course at the Royal College of Music in London. So, he achieved an important international career by taking the initiative to form ensembles and conduct for friends at first. Early successes included the founding of the Chelsea Opera Group, a company which to this day gives performances of little known operas in concert.

Davis was soon working with professional orchestras including the BBC Scottish Symphony. His first ‘break’ was at Sadler’s Wells in 1958 when his conducting of Mozart’s Abduction from the Seraglio began a lifelong connection with that composer. The Edinburgh Festival followed along with Glyndebourne. His concert career blossomed in the mid 1960′s alongside his opera work and his other passion for Berlioz began to bring him to the attention of record lovers. He has recorded all the major works of Berlioz, including the first complete (and still regarded as the landmark) recording of Les Troyens.

Davis has enjoyed a career-long affiliation with Philips Classics, recording along with Berlioz, Mozart, the complete symphonies of Sibelius (while he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Boston Symphony in the 1970s) and much more.

Booklet for Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 92, 93, 97-99