HAYDN: Piano Sonatas 3 - Marc-Andre Hamelin (2 CDs)

Piano Sonata in G major Hob XVI:6[15'52]
CD1
1
Allegro[5'53]
2
Menuet – Trio[3'54]
3
Adagio[3'36]
4
Finale: Allegro molto[2'29]
Piano Sonata in C major Hob XVI:1[9'14]
5
Allegro[2'48]
6
Adagio[3'46]
7
Menuet – Trio[2'40]
Piano Sonata in B flat major Hob XVI:2[16'31]
8
Moderato[6'56]
9
Largo[5'38]
10
Menuet – Trio[3'57]
Piano Sonata in E minor Hob XVI:47bis Add.[12'09]
11
Adagio[3'39]
12
Allegro[4'59]
13
Finale: Tempo di menuet[3'31]
Piano Sonata in G minor Hob XVI:44[12'29]
14
Moderato[8'29]
15
Allegretto[4'00]
Piano Sonata in E flat major Hob XVI:25[11'02]
16
Moderato[8'20]
17
Tempo di menuet[2'42]
Piano Sonata in C minor Hob XVI:20[25'16]
CD2
18
Moderato[10'52]
19
Andante con moto[8'02]
20
Finale: Allegro[6'22]
Piano Sonata in C sharp minor Hob XVI:36[15'33]
21
Moderato[8'35]
22
Scherzando: Allegro con brio[3'13]
23
Menuet: Moderato[3'45]
Piano Sonata in E major Hob XVI:22[16'35]
24
Allegro moderato[6'48]
25
Andante[6'18]
26
Finale: Tempo di menuet[3'29]
Piano Sonata in F major Hob XVI:29[17'08]
27
Moderato[7'49]
28
Adagio[5'17]
29
Tempo di menuet[4'02]
Piano Sonata in D major Hob XVI:51[4'50]
30
Andante[3'11]
31
Finale: Presto[1'39]

Hyperion’s Record of the Month is the third double-volume release in Marc-André Hamelin’s much-praised series of Haydn’s keyboard sonatas. Haydn wrote around sixty keyboard sonatas and this selection of eleven focuses on those from the 1770s, including the great C minor sonata from the composer’s ‘Sturm und Drang’ period, with its dynamic contrasts and virtuoso demands. These are bookended by three from Haydn’s earliest output from the 1750s, most likely penned for his young female pupils to play, and the D major sonata written during the second of the mature composer’s triumphant London visits in 1794.

In all these fascinating, idiosyncratic works, Marc-André Hamelin wears his renowned virtuosity lightly, while playing with understated wit and the elegant, immaculate musicianship that has come to define one of the greatest pianists of our time.