Reviewed by Steven Whitehead

Jeremy Siepmann, who is both writer and narrator for this splendid biography, has set himself an almost impossible task. Joseph Haydn (1732 – 1809) is the most prolific of all composers, having written more than 100 symphonies as well as pioneering the piano sonata and string quartet. How then can a biographer decide which extracts to use when illustrating the composer's work? Even with nearly five hours spread across four discs there are gaps. We do not get, for example, any of Haydn’s Masses. But this is an easy quibble to make and instead we should emphasise the many strengths of this set. Siepmann is a genial and witty narrator with faultless delivery. Even listening in the car I could hear every word. David Timson, who plays Haydn, also does a good job. The CDs may be used as normal discs or as enhanced CDs on any computer that can read CD-ROMs and, if you do not have access to this hardware, the 148-page booklet gives plenty of background information and recommendations for further reading and listening.