It is no slight against either the Hamburg NDR Sinfonieorchester or Kölner Rundfunk-Sinfonie-Orchester to say that their playing is not the most impressive aspect of this disc. Although both German orchestras' playing is bright, colorful, and graceful, there are better things here. Nor is it a slight to
Günter Wand to say his conducting is not the most impressive aspect of this disc. Although his conducting is strong, direct, and brilliant, there are better things here. Nor is it a slight against oboist
Hansjörg Schellenberger to say that his dry but warm playing in his concerto or a slight against pianist
Nikita Magaloff to say that his cool but sparkling playing in his concertos are not the most impressive aspect of this disc. It is simply to say that in this disc of music by Haydn, it is the music that is the most impressive aspect of this disc. The wry wit of his Piano Concerto in D major, the coy tenderness of his Oboe Concerto in C major, and the exuberant high spirit of his Symphony in E flat major are as instantly appealing as they are eternally attractive, and their combination here in Hänssler's
Wand edition in superb radio broadcast sound from the '70s and '80s will be welcomed by fans of the great Austrian composer as well as fans of
Wand,
Magaloff,
Schellenberger, and German radio symphony orchestras.