D. Stephen Heersink, on Haydn symphonies: >The others may be technically superior and more literally accurate, >but the grandeur of Beecham is resplendent, proving once again >that great composers can be improved upon by illustrious conductors. My first encounter with the Haydn London symphonies was through the Beecham versions and while I admired their - elegance is probably the best word - I sensed there was something else I wasn't hearing. I dutifully bought the Dorati box and found a different approach again, but still I thought I was being shortchanged. One day on a whim, I bought the Woldike version of the Drumroll symphony, and found what I'd been missing - taut playing, and excitement. Coincidentally, in search of something else the other day, I found that Woldike's versions of the last six are available on Vanguard SVC14/16. I think that this great conductor's work was the logical ancestor of the HIP versions we hear today. As Deryk Barker observed: >In 99-104 Wo"ldike (Vanguard) has yet to be beat IMHO. And in mine too. Richard Pennycuick [log in to unmask]