Haydn - London Symphonies Arr. Salomon

Enorme spiritualiteit waarmee Florilegium de muziek te lijf gaat een intieme, kamermuziekachtig sfeer

De complete symphonien blijven overeind en door de kleine bezetting zijn de muzikale lijnen zelfs veel beter te volgen.

kammermusikalisch intim und das auf hchsten Niveau. Eine CD fr Sammler, die schon alles haben - und fr Klassikfreunde, die spa daran haben, das Original mit der Solomon-Frassung zu vergleichen.

Das Ensemble spielt die Stcke mit so viel Esprit und feinziseliertem Zugriff, dass man nach kurzer Zeit gar nicht mehr an das Original denkt und nur noch geniet. Toccata () La sonorit de l'enregistrement est un blouissement pour les oreilles. Et quelle vitalit dans ces symphonies!! Un must dans une discotheque.

The playing is very good. The incredible spraky account of the first movement of The Surprise (nr. 94) offers a good sampler no orchestral group could match this agility. clearly, character and vigour are more important to this group than the Classical virtues of poise and polish, and I heartily applaud their priorities

A Surprise first issue of the chamber reductions of Haydns great symphonies. () these arrangements are worth hearing. () () How often listeners will want to hear these arrangements must be a personal decision, but the first instalment, well-recorded with stylish if occasionally abrasive period performances and the advantage of an SACD alternative can be warmly recommended to anyone who is intrigued.

have they (the transcriptions) anything important to tell us about Haydn? Well, go back to the full orchestral versions after these radically slimmed down versions and you'll immediately be struck by the brilliance of Haydn's orchestration. But at the same time these superbly accomplished, intelligent and spirited performances show how little of the substance of Haydn's music need be lost in translation. More than that, they show that a chamber ensemble can bring out details and subleties that might be masked in an orchestral performance. They're also very enjoyable to listen to - surprisingly so, in fact. That's partly because of the excellent recordings, which balance the ensemble to perfection and give it a wonderful bloom. Quite simply, this is first rate Haydn playing, and strongly recommendable as that.

one of the finest period instrument ensembles of our time () () splendid, spirited performances

there's plenty of reason to play and enjoy listening to these arrangements, and Florilegium offers lively, impulsive performances that are strong on charm