Haydn: Symphony No.44, 77
Orpheus Chamber Orchestra (DG)
(scroll down for English review)
以紐約為基地、不用指揮領導的奧菲斯室樂團明年創團50周年，DG提早給他們推出一套錄音全集，55CD，大部分錄音在15年間錄製，一方面印證CD面世後的好景，另一方面也是此團的曲目或演奏質素，很符合大眾口味，所以長錄長有。
從這套錄音中，我發覺居然有七張海頓交響曲的CD，能夠錄這麼這麼多（一共16首），而且知名的倫敦交響曲、巴黎交響曲只佔極少數，我想一定有其過人之處，我先從第53、73、79那張聽起，碰巧那是最後的第一張海頓（錄於1992年），所以我便聽在1982年錄的第一張，亦即是連結的一張，把兩者比較。
53、73、79那張的連結在回應欄中。結實的聲響、齊整的演奏，很容易解釋到奧菲斯室樂團何以有這麼大的聲名、這麼多的錄音，更是在沒有指揮下做出來。不過這張最後錄的海頓仍令我有頗大懷疑，因為這種準繩太過冰冷，我的感覺並非「齊心」，而是除了準繩，就根本沒有東西值得追求。
但這張頭炮並不一樣，雖然音響質素稍遜、演奏沒那麼響及準，但聲音卻沒有十年後那張沒頭沒腦。適當的時候會緊、會鬆，會有意識知道聲音不可太硬，兩個慢板（軌三及六）特別令我感覺自由。單從這兩個錄音來比較，不用指揮之下，早的一張較有室樂那種互相聆聽的境界，遲的一張就好像是跟着一個無形的指揮去執行那樣。
The New York-based Orpheus Chamber Orchestra will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Ahead of that DG released a mega box-set of 55CDs of their complete recordings on their label. Most of the music came from a 15 year period and this was proof of their huge popularity, both in terms of repertoire and playing.
I was surprised that there are seven CDs of Haydn symphonies. 16 symphonies were recorded and most of them weren’t the beloved London or Paris symphonies. Such a quantity might say something of the quality so I picked up the one with no.53, 73, 79 randomly. Incidentally this 1992-recorded CD was the last Haydn disc so I went back to this first Haydn disc which was recorded in 1982, almost at the start of the DG collaboration.
From the last disc I can sense why the Orpheus’ were so well-received. The overall sound was solid but not weighty, and the playing was very precise. But I don’t love this sound, it’s cold precision and it became a goal in itself.
The first Haydn disc was another matter. Although the sonic qualities were a bit compromised, and the ensemble was less solid and precise, this recording was more human than the final Haydn disc. The approach was quite flexible: it’s taut in the allegros and relaxed and free in the adagios (tracks 3 and 6). Solely from comparing the two albums I’ll say this first one was truly chamber music with players listening to one another. The final disc seemed to be played with an imaginary conductor.