Haydn: London Symphony No. 95; London Symphony No. 96; London Symphony No. 98; London Symphony No. 102; London Symphony No. 103; London Symphony No. 104; London Symphony No. 93; London Symphony No. 94; London Symphony No. 97; London Symphony No.

COMPOSERS: Haydn
LABELS: Philips Duo
WORKS: London Symphony No. 95; London Symphony No. 96; London Symphony No. 98; London Symphony No. 102; London Symphony No. 103; London Symphony No. 104; London Symphony No. 93; London Symphony No. 94; London Symphony No. 97; London Symphony No. 99; Lo
PERFORMER: Amsterdam Concertgebouw Orchestra/Colin Davis
CATALOGUE NO: 442 611-2/442 614-2 ADD (1976-82)

Davis recorded Haydn’s last symphonies between 1976 and 1982, ironically not with a London orchestra. These four well-filled discs remind us that modern instruments sound fine in this repertoire when directed with life and passion; the music sounds Beethovenian at times only because it really is. While fast tempi are excellently judged, some movements are unfashionably slow; in the Military Allegretto the majestic result justifies itself. In places the trumpets and drums are curiously reticent. The strings may be too many, but their tone is not seductive and the sound is over-reverberant. Nevertheless as a ‘basic set’ of the London works, this is excellent value. Julian Rushton