The Plot:
It's an inherently compelling idea - take the complete sonatas and Klavierstücke of classical composer Franz Joseph Haydn, recreate (via technology and the help of renowned artisans) the specific instruments he used during his time, and then virtually map out the rooms he would have played in. Then place performer and musicologist Tom Beghin behind the various keyboards and let him channel the famed Austrian artist's muse. The result is ten programs, spread out over three Blu-ray discs, each one covering a different period in Haydn's life. Here is a breakdown as to what is on each disc:

Disc One: Programs One through Four
Program One: Courting Nobility (1755 - 1769)
Sonata in C Major/ Capriccio in G Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Sonata in B-Flat Major/ Sonata in A Major/ Sonata in A-Flat Major/Adagio from Sonata in A-Flat Major "As Written"

Program Two: Quality Time (1750 - 1772)
Sonata in C Major/ Sonata in G Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Sonata in E Major/ Sonata in B-Flat Major/ Sonata in G Minor

Program Three: The Music Lesson (1755 - 1767)
Sonata in C Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Variations in A Major/ Sonata in G Major/ Sonata in E Minor/ Sonata in E-Flat Major

Program Four: Haydn's Workshop (1760 - 1771)
Sonata in C Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Variations in E-Flat Major/ Sonata in F Major/ Sonata in G Major/ Sonata in C Minor

Disc Two: Programs Five through Seven
Program Five: "Your Most Serene Highness" (1774)
Six Sonatas Dedicated to Prince Nicolaus Esterhazy (Kurzbock, 1774)
Sonata in C Major/ Sonata in E Major/ Sonata in F Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Sonata in E-Flat Major/ Sonata in A Major/ Adagio from Sonata in F Major Without Repeats/ Menuet Al Rovescio - Trio from Sonata in A Major/ Idem

Program Six: The Score (1776)
Six Sonatas for the Year 1776
Sonata in G Major/ Sonata in E-Flat Major/ Sonata in F Major/ Sonata in A Major/ Sonata in E Major/ Sonata in B Minor

Program Seven:"Equal to the Finest Masters" (1780)
Six Sonatas Dedicated to Katharina and Marianna Von Auenbrugger (Arataria, 1780)
Sonata in C Major/ Sonata in C-Sharp Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Sonata in E-Flat Major/ Sonata in G Major/ Sonata in C Minor

Disc Three: Programs Eight through Ten
Program Eight: Musical Letters to a Princess (1782 - 1790)
Variations in C Major/ Sonata in E Minor/ Sonata in G Major/ Sonata in B-Flat Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Allegretto E Innocente from Sonata in G Major/ Single Piece 1: Sonata in D Major

Program Nine: Viennese Culture (1789 - 1798)
Fantasia (Capriccio) in C Major/ Sonata in E-Flat Major/ Variations ("Sonata") in F Minor/ Sonata in E-Flat Major/ Single Piece 2: Sonata in C Major

Program Ten: The London Scene (1794 - 1795)
Prelude in C Major/ Sonata in C Major/ Sonata in D Major/ Sonata in F-Flat Major/ Adagio in G Major/ Coda: Variation in G Major

Disc Four: Documentaries and Video Performances (all in HD)

The Blu-ray:
One doesn't usually associate aural reproduction when it comes to Blu-ray. Until now, the technology has been sold as the best way to watch movies and other high definition offerings...period. So when something like The Virtual Haydn comes along, you have to be curious. After all, is there really a market for musical titles which do nothing more than max out a home theater's surround sound system with brilliantly recreated audio? It seems specious at first, especially when you learn that there are over 15 hours of Haydn compositions here. Even more disorienting is Haydn's simplistic labeling of his work. Looking for a specific "Sonata in C Major"? You'll probably have to break out the enclosed 64 page booklet to figure out which version you want to hear. Again, all of this detail and historical accuracy is fascinating. It's like Jurassic Park for music purists. One could easily see other famed masters, like Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi, et. al. getting a similar slick treatment. The question remains, however, will there be an audience for such a restricted, limited use of the Blu-ray concept?

The answer is tricky. As a lover of classical music, this critic enjoyed every hour of the presentation. Like a screensaver, the disc could be inserted in the player, switched on, and allowed to fill the room with gorgeous keyboard brilliance (a screenshot of the instrument being used is all the visual information offered). Beghin is an accomplished artist, his touch giving way to flourishes that really emphasize a piece's emotional core. He interprets Haydn expertly, never once giving over to an attempt to modernize or undermine the composer's vision. Sure, this can be stodgy at times, but it's all part of an appreciation of the arts. If all you want is F/X driven folly filling up your home theater, avoid this box set. But if you want something that's completely immersive, that echoes across your surround sound set-up like being invited into a royal's private chamber for an intimate concert, you'll die for this digital presentation. And yet, the limits remain. It's only Haydn. It's only his solo keyboard work. It's only various configurations of harpsichords, clavichords, and pianos. One can only imagine how something like Beethoven's Ninth Symphony would sound given this approach.

As for the documentary and 'music videos', they are compelling if a tad dry and demonstrative. We are really meant to see every step of the process - the reimagining and construction of these ancient instruments, the meticulous acoustical 'mapping' of various buildings and spaces, the combining of old with new technology, the hard work facing Beghin in bringing these keyboard compositions to life. It's inherently interesting, even if it gets repetitive. Also intriguing is how difficult some of these pieces are. Watching the performer play, fingers soaring across what is often a smaller set of keys, is amazing. Still, there is an aura of pretentiousness present that can be off-putting. Similarly, Haydn is not as well known as many of the great composers and a singular focus on his work can grow cyclical. Still, as an experiment in using the Blu-ray disc for something other than the latest adventures of some comic book superhero, The Virtual Haydn is outstanding. It may not fill all your entertainment needs, but it sure is great to listen to.

The Video:
Don't come to The Virtual Haydn looking to be blown away by Disc Four's HD presentation. This is an MPEG - 2 encoding which looks less than spectacular and far from reference quality. Sure, there are aspects of the 1080i image that illustrate the strengths of the format. During construction, you can see sawdust, wood chips, and other random elements filling the space. The keyboards themselves reveal flaws and defects in the precision and workmanship. Even worse, the main documentary has a ported-from-videotape suggestion and softness that is striking, and overall, the 1.78:1 transfer is decent, if not definitive. Again, no one is coming to this title for its visual appeal, so it almost doesn't matter. Almost.

The Audio:
Here's the real selling point. The DTS-HD Master Audio 5.0 mix is outstanding. Really outstanding. It is completely immersive, providing crystal clear reproduction of both the instruments and the space. There is a wonderful level of ambience present, notes resonating from one speaker across several. Each keyboard has its own characteristics and the richness of this presentation really accents their discernible individuality. Again, there is a real attempt by Beghin and his crew to recreate location and acoustics here, and the results are magnificent. If you do not have a high end home theater set-up, you may miss many of the subtleties. Even on a lower level system, the sonics are tremendous. And don't be confused by the also available PCM 2.0 offering. It's good, but not anywhere near as stunning as the multichannel choice.

The Extras:
Considering the size of the set, the wealth of information included, and the enclosed booklet, there really is no need for bonus features. Thus, The Virtual Haydn does not offer any, and that's perfectly fine.

Final Thoughts:
Without a doubt, this is one of the most unusual titles ever to cross this critic's path. Even as a relative newbie to the whole Blu-ray revolution, the notion of taking one composer, his complete solo keyboard works, and attempting to recreate them in both instrumentation and performance location seems borderline insane. In a world where specialization seems antithetical to commercial gains, there's such a thing as being too narrowly focused. Oddly enough, such an approach is why The Virtual Haydn is so Highly Recommended. Indeed, it's almost a Collector's Series title, considering the artistic expression present and the technical realization of same. Truth be told, one can easily extrapolate out such an intriguing idea and, for example, imagine meticulous sonic and situational reconstruction of turn of the century talents like George Gershwin. Or imagine rock and roll from the '50s brought back to life via this conceit. As an attempt to make the format more consumer friendly, The Virtual Haydn may not succeed. But as part of a possible niche marketing approach, it promises great things - and definitely delivers.

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