Title: Abbado's best Haydn
Product review: His Haydn seems inconsistent, sometime plagued by period practice mannerisms which interrupt lyricism and flow (true especially of his 102 and 103, one of his last Haydn discs). I did enjoy his93+101 more, and find this 96 + sin con an unadulterated joy. The COE is superb-just the right size and wind blessed (eg the sinfonia at the end of 96/2 and the entire sin con). Abbado's Haydn here reminds me of his inspired Don Giovanni rather than his disappointing Figaro, both on DG. The sin con has not fared very well- I have owned the Spivakov, Bernstein, and Bohm performances,all good but not as bouyant and exhilarating as this Abbado. CA's main competition comes from Karl Ristenpart's former Nonesuch lp (now issued on CD by Klassichaus). I prefer the Ristenpart VERY slightly. The Abbado #96 is also excellent, moving to elite status with Szell/Sony (still #1 I believe), Davis/RCO/, Jochum/LPO amd Van Beinum/RCO. But Abbado's coupling makes it irresistable
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