JOSEPH HAYDN (1732–1809)

Piano Sonatas

 

CD 1 [75'07]

Piano Sonata No 50 in C major Hob XVI:50 [15'23]

1 Allegro [6'37] 2 Adagio [6'21] 3 Allegro molto [2'24]

Piano Sonata No 40 in G major Hob XVI:40 [9'22]

4 Allegretto innocentemente [6'28] 5 Presto [2'52]

Piano Sonata No 46 in A flat major Hob XVI:46 [20'27]

6 Allegretto moderato [8'00] 7 Adagio [8'46] 8 Finale: Presto [3'40]

Piano Sonata No 41 in B flat major Hob XVI:41 [9'50]

9 Allegro [7'40] 10 Allegro di molto [2'09]

Piano Sonata No 52 in E flat major Hob XVI:52 [20'03]

11 Allegro moderato [7'38] 12 Adagio [6'49] 13 Finale: Presto [5'34]

 

CD 2 [69'24]

Piano Sonata No 23 in F major Hob XVI:23 [16'45]

1 Moderato [6'12] 2 Adagio [7'13] 3 Finale: Presto [3'20]

Piano Sonata No 43 in A flat major Hob XVI:43 [15'05]

4 Moderato [7'45] 5 Menuetto — Trio — Menuetto da capo [2'44] 6 Rondo: Presto [4'34]

Piano Sonata No 24 in D major Hob XVI:24 [12'02]

7 Allegro [6'31] 8 Adagio [3'37] 9 Finale: Presto [1'53]

Piano Sonata No 32 in B minor Hob XVI:32 [13'51]

10 Allegro moderato [5'57] 11 Menuet [3'42] 12 Finale: Presto [4'11]

Piano Sonata No 37 in D major Hob XVI:37 [11'39]

13 Allegro con brio [5'27] 14 Largo e sostenuto [3'03] 15 Finale: Presto ma non troppo [3'08]

 

Marc-André Hamelin piano

 

Epitomizing the evolution of the Classical sonata, Haydn’s iconic contributions to the genre, some sixty in total, have in some respects become victims of their own perfection, ignored by all but a handful of today’s leading pianists and relegated to the classroom. But in the hands of Maestro Hamelin these crystalline marvels are released from such transient shackles—to wondrous effect.

 

The programme is varied: a tour through Haydn’s ‘experimental’ and ‘popularist’ styles culminates with two of the acknowledged ‘great’ sonatas, Nos 50 and 52. And how suited this all is to the performer: Hamelin’s devotion to virtuosic innovation—as reflected in his astonishing discography—is so firmly rooted in his passion for a sense of pianistic genealogy that these seminal works seem entirely in keeping with his more pyrotechnical reputation.

 

Hyperion 2cds CDA67554