2009 brings the bicentenary of Mendelssohn’s birth, for which we have Malcolm Sargent conducting Ruy Blas, and the bicentenary of Haydn’s death, with Jascha Horenstein conducting the Surprise Symphony. Both recordings are 80 years old in 2009.

Download – Mendelssohn – Ruy Blas Overture – Malcolm Sargent

(mp3 files – right click the link, then select “Save as” or click the play button)

Mendelssohn – Ruy Blas – Overture
His Master’s Voice C 1813
Matrices Cc 17933-II, 17934-I (32-1065/6)
Recorded 16th December 1929, Kingsway Hall, London
London Symphony Orchestra, Malcolm Sargent
(The orchestra is credited on the record labels only as “Symphony Orchestra”)

Mediafire link for Haydn – Surprise Symphony – Jascha Horenstein

(These are zip files – left click the link, download the files, then unzip when downloaded)

Haydn – Symphony No.94 in G major “The Surprise”

I. Adagio cantabile – Vivace assai (2 sides)
II. Andante (2 sides)
III. Menuetto (Allegro molto) and Trio (1 side)
IV. Allegro di molto (1 side)

Polydor 66914-6
Matrices 132, 133, 134½, 135, 136, 137½ BV VI (B 21217/22)
Recorded 1929, Berlin
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Jascha Horenstein