Joseph HAYDN (1732-1809)
Complete Piano Music
Pianists: Jolanda Violante, Bart van Oort, Ursula Dütschler, Stanley Hoogland, Yoshiko Kojima, Riko Fukuda
rec. 2000-08
BRILLIANT CLASSICS 95298 [13 CDs: 17:15:29]

The first thing that must be said about this set is that the recordings presented here have all been, and in some cases still are available in other guises. The set brings together the piano concerto disc (94175), the complete sonata set (94090) and the set which contains the miscellaneous piano works (93770). It can also be encountered in the Haydn Masterworks set (92395) and the Haydn complete edition (93782). I used to own the piano sonata set in an earlier version (99671), which has mysteriously disappeared from my collection. Whilst I applaud Brilliant for putting this out some people might find that they have to put up with some duplication, and with that being said, I am more than happy to have been given the opportunity to become reacquainted with this fine release.

Proceedings open with a spirited performance of the three piano concertos. I must admit that whilst I have a couple of recordings of these works, it is nice to have a recording of them on a fortepiano. Jolanda Violante’s performance is strong and well figured and happily the fortepiano is not overwhelmed by the playing of the period ensemble, L’Arte dell’Arco. This not only shows good direction from Federico Guglielmo, but also a well balanced recording.

This is followed by the complete sonatas on the next ten discs, with two of these being devoted to each performer. I have always enjoyed these readings, and whilst I must agree with Kirk McElhearn that overall Ronald Brautigam’s set of the solo piano works for Bis (BIS-CD-1731/33) is slightly better, I also find that on occasion the over-reverberant recording at times lets the Bis down. Each of the five performers recorded here give a really good account of their allotted works, although I must give special mention to Stanley Hoogland and Bart van Oort who are both excellent interpreters and thank them for providing some of the instruments employed in this set. Nothing is lost by not setting the sonatas out chronologically; Brautigam and Bis follow chronological order. It enables the performers to demonstrate their full performing prowess in these sparkling works written throughout Haydn’s compositional process. What I do like a lot about this is that the listener is given the opportunity to experience the different instruments. The variance in sound-world between the modern copy of the Anton Walter and that of the Broadwood is greater than one would think.

By including the five disc collection of Haydn's miscellaneous works this not only includes those pieces included on the Brautigam - something that Kirk McElhearn missed - but surpasses it by including a disc of various arrangements from music for a Musical Clock, Symphonies, the Opera La Vera Constanza, String Quartets and Piano Trios. These arrangements are all very interesting and certainly add something. The experience concludes, as does the Brautigam, with a very fine reading of Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze which again is performed on another modern copy of an Anton Walter. This should once and for all banish the myth that the fortepiano sounds like an out of tune pub piano.

The booklet essay by Bart van Oort is informative as to Haydn and his instruments. It explores why a particular instrument was chosen and delves into the subject of the type of instrument at which he chose to compose these works. From what I can remember of the notes from the sonata set, these are the same or very similar to them. Sadly they do not discuss any particular pieces. It would have been nice if the notes had done this. I say this, especially since when checking through my books I can only find scant mention of some of the works, and no mention at all of the arrangements. The question of the instruments Haydn played is addressed best in the Naxos set entitled The Virtual Haydn (8.501203). There Tom Beghin employs modern copies of the seven instruments Haydn had at his disposal. He then plays them in a special sound room where the acoustic can be altered to mimic that of the original surroundings of the instrument. This is also an excellent set although it can sound a little clinical at times.

With respect to this new Brilliant Classics set, the addition of the concertos and the miscellaneous pieces certainly gives it a fresh edge; one which makes it at least the equal of the Bis set.

Stuart Sillitoe

Track-list

HAYDN Complete Piano Music [17:15:29]
 
CD 1 [64:15] Piano Concertos
Keyboard Concerto in D Major, Hob. XVIII:11
1. Vivace [8:33]
2. Un poco adagio [6:12]
3. Rondo all’Ungarese. Allegro assai [4:57]
Keyboard Concerto in G Major, Hob. XVIII:4
4. Allegro [9:55]
5. Adagio [7:55]
6. Presto [5:43]
Keyboard Concerto in F Major, Hob. XVIII:3
7. Allegro [9:30]
8. Largo cantabile [7:51]
9. Presto [3:39]
Jolanda Violante (fortepiano) L’Arte dell’Arco, Frederico Guglielmo
rec. Studio Magister, Preganziol-Treviso, Italy, 18-20 April 2008

CD 2 [63.20] Piano Sonatas 41, 16, 2, 32, 46
Sonata in B flat major, Hob XVI/41 (ca 1782/84)
1. Allegro [5.65 ]
2. Allegro di molto [2.48]
Sonata in E flat major, Hob XVI/16 (before 1766)
3. Andante-presto [2.29]
4. Menuet-trio [2.57]
5. Presto [1.46]
Sonata in B flat major, Hob XVI/2 (before 1766)
6. Moderato [7.05]
7. Largo [5.08]
8. Menuet [3.53]
Sonata in b minor, Hob XVI/32 (1776)
9. Allegro moderato [5.46]
10. Menuet-Trio [3.22]
11. Finale: presto [3.06]
Sonata in A flat major, Hob XVI/46 (ca 1768)
12. Allegro moderato [7.12]
13. Adagio [9.23]
14. Finale: presto [2.27]

CD 3 [62.21] Piano Sonatas 33, 1, 12, 42, 50
Sonata in D major, Hob XVI/33 (1771/73?)
1. Allegro [5.57 ]
2. Adagio [5.59 ]
3. Tempo di Menuet [3.57 ]
Sonata in C major, Hob XVI/1 (before 1776)
4. Allegro [2.55 ]
5. Adagio [3.35]
6. Menuet-Trio [2.44]
Sonata in A major, Hob XVI/12 (before 1776)
7. Andante [3.44]
8. Menuet-Trio [3.35]
9. Presto [1.47]
Sonata in D major, Hob XVI/42 (ca 1782/84)
10. Andante con espressione [9.20]
11. Vivace assai [3.05]
Sonata in C major, Hob XVI/50 (1794/95)
12. Allegro [7.27]
13. Adagio [5.24]
14. Allegro molto [2.50]
Discs 2 and 3: Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
rec. Maria Minor Utrecht, The Netherlands, 11-13 September 2000
 
CD 4 [66.16] Piano Sonatas G1, 3, 13, 30, 44, 43
Sonata in G major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/G1 (before 1766)
1. Allegro [2.43]
2. Menuetto [2.41]
3. Finale: Presto [1.54]
Sonata in C major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/3 (before 1766)
4. Allegretto [2.54]
5. Andante [3.18]
6. Menuet [3.06]
Sonata in E major ('Parthia', 'Divertimento'), Hob XVI/13 (before 1766)
7. Moderato [3.18]
8. Menuetto [2.51]
9. Finale: Presto [2.21]
Sonata in A major ('Divertimento'),Hob XVI/30 (1776)
10. Allegro - Adagio [7.51]
11. Tempo di Menuet [6.55]
Sonata in g minor, Hob XVI/44 (1768/70?)
12. Moderato [6.50]
13. Allegretto [4.09]
Sonata in A flat major, Hob XVI/43 (1771/73?)
14. Moderato [7.01]
15. Menuetto [2.32]
16. Rondo: Presto [5.51]

CD 5 [62.51] Piano Sonatas 10, 5, 22, 37, 49
Sonata in C major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/10 (before 1766)
1. Moderato [2.30]
2. Menuet [2.41]
3. Finale: Presto [2.12]
Sonata in A major ('Divertimento'),Hob XVI/5 (before 1763)
4. Allegro [5.22]
5. Menuet [2.13]
6. Presto [2.55]
Sonata in E major, Hob XVI/22 (1773)
7. Allegro moderato [6.00]
8. Andante [3.39]
9. Finale: Menuetto [4.11]
Sonata in D major, Hob XVI/37 (1777/79)
10. Allegro con brio [4.33]
11. Largo e sostenuto [2.25]
12. Finale: Presto ma non troppo [3.50]
Sonata in E flat major, Hob XVI/49 (1789/90)
13. Allegro [8.00]
14. Adagio e cantabile [8.05]
15. Finale: Tempo di minuet [4.13]
Discs 4 and 5 Ursula Dütschler (fortepiano)
rec. Maria Minor Utrecht, The Netherlands, 18–21 September 2000
 
CD 6 [74.13] Piano Sonatas 7, 47, 23, 27, 52
Sonata in C major, Hob XVI/7 (before 1766)
1. Allegro moderato [1.16]
2. Menuet [2.44]
3. Finale: allegro [1.31]
Sonata in e minor, Hob XVI/47 (before 1766)
4. Adagio [4.40]
5. Allegro [5.24]
6. Finale: tempo di menuet [3.45]
Sonata in F major, Hob XVI/23 (1773)
7. Allegro [7.25]
8. Adagio [6.59]
9. Finale: presto [4.28]
Sonata in G major, Hob XVI/27 (1776)
10. Allegro con brio [5.42]
11. Menuet [4.51]
12. Finale: presto [3.35]
Sonata in E flat major, Hob XVI/52 (1794)
13. Allegro [9.32]
14. Adagio [5.53]
15. Finale: presto [6.17]

CD 7 [66.39] Piano Sonatas 11, 19, 35, 34, 51
Sonata in G major, Hob. XVI/11 (before 1766)
1. Presto [2.14]
2. Andante [5.46]
3. Menuetto [3.04]
Sonata in D major, Hob. XVI/19 (1767)
4. Moderato [8.28]
5. Andante [9.12]
6. Finale: allegro assai [3.30]
Sonata in C major, Hob. XVI/35 (1777/79)
7. Allegro [6.09]
8. Adagio [5.46]
9. Finale: allegro [3.04]
Sonata in e minor, Hob. XVI/34 (1781)
10. Presto [4.32]
11. Adagio [4.43]
12. Vivace molto [3.37]
Sonata in D major, Hob. XVI/51 (1794)
13. Andante [3.59]
14. Finale: presto [2.30]
Discs 6 and 7 Stanley Hoogland (fortepiano)
rec. Maria Minor Utrecht, The Netherlands, 25-29 September and 2-6 October 2000

CD 8 [59.25] Piano Sonatas D1, 24, 25, 29, 39
Sonata in D major ('Variazione'), Hob XVII/D1 (before 1766)
1. Thema con variationi [3.26]
2. Menuet [0.55]
3. Finale [1.53]
Sonata in D major, Hob XVI/24 (1773)
4. Allegro [5.18]
5. Adagio [3.32]
6. Finale: Presto [2.31]
Sonata in E flat major, Hob XVI/25 (1773)
7. Moderato [6.24]
8. Tempo di menuet [2.16]
Sonata in F major ('Divertimento'),Hob XVI/29 (1774)
9. Moderato [6.07]
10. Adagio [5.18]
11. Tempo di menuet [4.30]
Sonata in G major, Hob XVI/39 (1780)
12. Allegro con brio [4.45]
13. Adagio [7.16]
14. Prestissimo [5.12]

CD 9 [66.38] Piano Sonatas 45, 18, 38, 40, 48
Sonata in E flat major, Hob XVI/45 (1766)
1. Moderato [7.10]
2. Andante [5.50]
3. Finale: allegro di molto [6.02]
Sonata in B flat major, Hob XVI/18 (ca 1766/67)
4. Allegro moderato [5.00]
5. Moderato [5.11]
Sonata in E flat major, Hob XVI/38 (1777/79?)
6. Allegro moderato [6.21]
7. Adagio [4.01]
8. Finale: allegro [2.47]
Sonata in G major, Hob XVI/40 (ca 1782/84)
9. Allegretto e innocente [8.37]
10. Presto [3.15]
Sonata in C major, Hob XVI/48 (1789)
11. Andante con espressione [7.54]
12. Rondo: presto [4.28]
Discs 8 and 9 Yoshiko Kojima (fortepiano)
rec. Maria Minor Utrecht, The Netherlands, 4-7 September 2000
 
CD10 [60.46] Piano Sonatas 21, 20, 26, 4, 31
Sonata in C major, Hob XVI/21 (1773)
1. Allegro [5.56]
2. Adagio [6.01]
3. Finale: presto [2.19]
Sonata in c minor, Hob XVI/20 (1771)
4. Moderato [8.44]
5. Andante con moto [6.02]
6. Finale: allegro [4.34]
Sonata in A major, Hob XVI/26 (1773)
7. Allegro moderato [6.47]
8. Menuet al Rovescio [2.33]
9. Finale: presto [0.47]
Sonata in D major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/4 (before 1776)
10. (no tempo indication) [4.24]
11. Menuetto [2.32]
Sonata in E major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/31 (1776)
12. Moderato [5.32]
13. Allegretto [1.50]
14. Finale: presto [2.40]

CD 11 [64.44] Piano Sonatas 28, 36, 14, 6, 9, 8
Sonata in E flat major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/28 (1776)
1. Allegro moderato [6.37]
2. Menuet [3.34]
3. Finale: Presto [3.53]
Sonata in c sharp minor, Hob XVI/36 (1777/79?)
4. Moderato [6.25]
5. Scherzando: Allegro con brio [3.07]
6. Menuet: Moderato [3.38]
Sonata in D major ('Partita', 'Divertimento'), Hob XVI/14 (before 1766)
7. Allegro moderato [6.06]
8. Menuet [3.41]
9. Presto [2.28]
Sonata in G major ('Partita', 'Divertimento'), Hob XVI/6 (before 1766)
10. Allegro [4.14]
11. Minuet [4.14]
12. Adagio [3.07]
13. Finale: Allegro molto [1.51]
Sonata in F major ('Divertimento'), Hob XVI/9 (before 1766)
14. Allegro [1.52]
15. Menuet [3.06]
16. Scherzo [0.46]
Sonata in G major ('Partita', 'Divertimento'), Hob XVI/8 (before 1766)
17. Allegro [2.51]
18. Menuet [0.53]
19. Andante [1.25]
20. Allegro [0.43]
Discs 10 and 11 Riko Fukuda (fortepiano)
rec. Maria Minor Utrecht, The Netherlands, 2-4 October 2000
 
CD 12 [62:50] Variations
1. Variations in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVII:3: I. Arietta [14:10]
2. Variations in F Minor, Hob. XVII:6 [14:55]
3. Variations in A Major, Hob. XVII:2: II. Arietta [15:57]
4. Four Variations on “Gott erhalte “ in G Major, Hob. XVII: Anhang [5:50]
5. Five Variations in D Major, Hob. XVII:7 [4:27]
6. Six Variations in C Major, Hob. XVII:5 [7:31]
Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
rec. Hervormde Kerk, Rhoon, The Netherlands, 18-19 October 2007


CD 13 [75:13] Menuets, Marches and Dances
Twelve Menuets, Hob. IX:8
1. Menuet and Trio in C Major [2:41]
2. Menuet in G Major [0:48]
3. Menuet in B-Flat [0:52]
4. Menuet and Trio in F Major [1:28]
5. Menuet and Trio in D Major [1:47]
6. Menuet in A Major [0:39]
7. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:15]
8. Menuet in G Major [0:45]
9. Menuet in E Major [0:42]
10. Menuet and Trio in C Major [2:05]
11. Menuet in G Major [0:34]
12. Menuet in F Major [1:15]
13. March in E-Flat Major, Hob. VIII:1 [1:28]
Twelve Menuets, Hob. IX:3
14. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:53]
15. Menuet in G Major [0:40]
16. Menuet in B-Flat Major [0:46]
17. Menuet and Trio in F Major [1:42]
18. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:00]
19. Menuet in B-Flat Major [0:53]
20. Menuet and Trio in E-Flat Major [1:37]
21. Menuet in G Major [0:39]
22. Menuet in C Major [0:54]
23. Menuet in F Major [0:57]
24. Menuet in C Major [0:41]
25. Menuet in D Major [0:57]
26. March in C Major, Hob. VIII:2 [1:40]
Twelve Menuets, Hob. IX:11
27. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:43]
28. Menuet and Trio in B-Flat Major [2:05]
29. Menuet and Trio in G Major [2:02]
30. Menuet and Trio in E Major [2:33]
31. Menuet and Trio in C Major [1:44]
32. Menuet and Trio in F Major [2:25]
33. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:06]
34. Menuet and Trio in E-Flat Major [2:24]
35. Menuet and Trio in C Major [1:59]
36. Menuet in G Major [0:50]
37. Menuet and Trio in E-Flat Major [3:12]
38. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:25]
39. March in E-Flat Major, Hob. VIII:3/3bis [4:02]
Twelve German Dances, Hob. IX:12
40. German Dance in G Major [0:37]
41. German Dance in B-Flat Major [0:40]
42. German Dance in G Major [0:44]
43. German Dance and Trio in C Major [1:45]
44. German Dance in A Major [0:32]
45. German Dance in D Major [0:39]
46. German Dance in G Major [0:45]
47. German Dance in D Major [0:44]
48. German Dance in B-Flat Major [0:52]
49. German Dance in C Major [0:48]
50. German Dance in F Major [0:35]
51. German Dance in D Major [1:04]
52. Contredanse in D Major, Hob. XXXIc:17b [0:35]
Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
rec. Hervormde Kerk, Rhoon, The Netherlands, 7 December 2007


CD 14 [66:38] Sonatas and Menuets
1. Fantasia in C Major, Hob. XVII:4 [6:13]
2. Adagio in F Major, Hob. XVII:9 [4:41]
3. Capriccio in G Major, Hob. XVII:1 [7:23]
Keyboard Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVII:D1
4. Thema [3:13]
5. Menuet [1:00]
6. Finale [1:51]
Keyboard Sonata in F Major, Hob. XVII: A/1 for Four Hands ‘Il Maestro e Scolare’
With Sylvia Berry
7. Thema. Andante [13:59]
8. Tempo di Menuetto [3:22]
Eighteen Menuets and Aria, Hob. IX:20 and Hob. XVII:F1
9. Menuet and Trio in D Major [2:10]
10. Menuet in G Major [0:51]
11. Menuet and Trio in B-Flat Major [2:18]
12. Menuet in G Major [0:44]
13. Menuet in E Major [0:52]
14. Menuet and Trio in C Major [2:39]
15. Menuet in A Major [0:38]
16. Menuet and Trio in F Major [1:56]
17. Menuet in D Major [0:39]
18. Menuet and Trio in C Major [2:24]
19. Menuet and Trio in A Major [1:48]
20. Menuet in E Major [0:36]
21. Menuet in A Major [0:51]
22. Menuet in F Major [0:48]
23. Menuet in D Major [0:46]
24. Menuet in G Major [0:43]
25. Menuet and Trio in C Major [1:59]
26. Menuet in D Major [1:09]
27. Aria in F Major [0:48]
Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
rec. Hervormde Kerk, Rhoon, The Netherlands, 1 February 2008

CD 15 [62:32] Arrangements
From Musical Clock Hob. XIX:27
1. Allegretto in G Major, Hob. XVII:10 [1:37]
From Symphonies
2. Symphony No. 81, Hob. I:81: II. Andante [6:17]
3. Symphony No. 79, Hob. I:79: II. Adagio [4:45]
4. Symphony No. 85. Hob. I:85: III. Menuetto [3:06]
5. Symphony No. 85, Hob. I:85: II. Rondo. Andante allegretto [3:25]
6. Symphony No. 53, Hob. I:53: II. Andante [2:35]
7. Symphony No. 93, Hob. I:93: II. Adagio in G Major 4:31]
8. Symphony No. 97, Hob. I:97: III. Menuet in C Major 3:12]
9. Symphony No. 94, Hob. I:94: II. Andante in C Major [5:15]
From the Opera La vera Constanza, Hob. XXVIII:8
10. Aria “Io son poverina”. Allegretto [1:11]
11. Second Part of the Introduzione, Hob. Ia:15 [1:32]
12. Last Part of the Introduzione. Vivace [1:04]
From String Quartets
13. String Quartet, Hob. III:41: IV. Allegretto – Presto [2:43]
14. String Quartet, Hob. III:74: II. Largo assai [5:23]
From Piano Trios
15. Piano Trio, Hob. XV:37: III. Menuet [2:55]
16. Piano Trio, Hob. XV:38: II. Menuet [3:48]
17. Piano Trio, Hob. XV:40: II. Menuet [3:43]
18. Piano Trio, Hob. XV:22: II. Adagio [5:16]
Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
rec. Hervormde Kerk, Rhoon, The Netherlands, 2 February and 18 March 2008

CD 16 [56:54]
Die Sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze
1. L’Introduzione [6:33]
2. Sonata I. Pater, dimitte illis, quia nesciunt, quid faciunt [7:00]
3. Sonata II. Hodie mecum eris in paradise [6:42]
4. Sonata III. Mulier, ecce filius tuus [7:26]
5. Sonata IV. Deus meus, ut quid derelquisti me? [5:50]
6. Sonata V. Sittio [6:40]
7. Sonata VI. Consummatum est [7:25]
8. Sonata VII. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo Spiritum meum [7:05]
9. Il Terremoto [2:05]
Bart van Oort (fortepiano)
rec. Hervormde Kerk, Rhoon, The Netherlands, 10 May 2007

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