Haydn: Piano Sonatas
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Free Music Notes for Haydn: Piano Sonatas
Free Music Review: Exquisite Haydn
Hit: 5 Stars
For the life of me I cannot understand the reviews of these cds that claim Hamelin plays them too fast and mechanically. What exactly is too fast here? The slow movements and minuets are played, if anything, a little slower than usual. As for the finales, most of them are marked presto. How exactly do you play a presto movement too fast? I suppose they're referring to the opening movements, some of which are faster than usual. But what difference does a little extra speed make when it is balanced by such pointed phrasing? Hamelin's playing is simply something to marvel at-such beautiful sound and elegant phrasing. He fully captures the warmth of the slow movements and the bouyant humor of Haydn's finales. I was prompted to buy these cds after hearing Hamelin play one of them in New York last month. Until then I thought I had all the Haydn sonatas I need. But when I saw and heard what Hamelin did with the B minor sonata (#32 here) I knew I had to add this collection. The sound matches the performances in excellence. Forget the nonsense about excessive speed and treat yourself to these delightful discs.Free Music Review: Haydn - Hamelin - Who Knew?
Hit: 5 Stars
Having played the piano for all my life - I have certainly played a number of Haydn Sonatas and enjoyed them.
The booklet with theis excellent CD set notes that they are mainly pieces played by students. I had realized they were great works but these CD's made me appreciate HOW great!
Hamelin may be better known for Romantic and more 'flashy' pianism - but here he shows his true mastery of the classical form. I hope that he will go on to record more and Mozart and Beethoven too!
These discs are a revelation and I urge you to buy them - especially at the 2 for 1 price!
Free Music Review: Gorgeous playing
Hit: 5 Stars
I can't believe the negative reviews here - I'm so glad I was not swayed by them. This CD is GORGEOUS. Elegance, humor, finesse, sensitivity, style, virtuosity, sense of form... it's all here. The slow movements are breathtakingly and achingly beautiful. I think Haydn's piano sonatas are sorely underrated - listen to these and hear why.Free Music Review: Impressive technique, but missing Haydn's genial spirit
Hit: 4 Stars
Almost all of Haydn's artistry is richly rewarding, and I encourage everyone with an interest in Classical music to acquaint themselves with his welcoming genius. Haydn's gift for lapidary musical invention seems nearly inexhaustible, and his piano sonatas are yet another genre where his creativity can be easily approached and enjoyed. I'm grateful to Marc-Andre Hamelin for recording these neglected sonatas with splendid panache, bringing them fresh to an appreciative audience. However, I sometimes feel that Haydn's music is performed skillfully, though without the breadth of humane sympathy it deserves, and I suspect that the full wealth of Haydn's craft is not quite arrayed, here. I won't find fault with Hamelin's talents as a pianist, which are brilliantly polished, nor do I mean to be glib with my critique, but I will say that stylistically, his renderings sound to my ears more like caffeinated Chopin rather than Franz Josef's neo-Classical poise, humor, verve and endearing warmth. I first fell in love with Haydn's piano music through the performances of Bart van Oort, on pianoforte (Brilliant Classics label) and John McCabe, on modern piano (London/Decca label). Unfortunately, these recordings seem to be available only as complete sets of the Haydn sonatas, which would be too great an investment for most listeners. A relatively inexpensive introduction to the abundant pleasures of Haydn's piano pieces can be found through the recordings of Alfred Brendel, such as this album available here on Amazon: Haydn: 3 Piano Sonatas; Fantasia in C; Adagio in F. Brendel's performance is erudite and heartfelt, if somewhat romantic. For pianism that is a bit closer to the sound-world of 18th-century Austria (yet played on modern instruments) both Andras Schiff Haydn: Piano Sonatas and Leif Ove Andsnes ~ Haydn - Piano Sonatas can be recommended.Free Music Review: The notes are all there, but where's the rest?
Hit: 3 Stars
I consider myself an enthusiast of Marc-André Hamelin's playing, but not an idolater. Hamlin is obviously a curious musician, playing boatloads of repertoire few bother to touch: Rzewski, Alkan, Szymanowski, and Godowsky - and playing it very well. Indeed, in many ways I consider Hamelin to be the true successor to Godowsky, as evidenced by his witty and complex transcriptions and original compositions. His Liszt, too, is on a very high level. Yet, I've heard performances of his that have left me indifferent, such as his Chopin, Schumann, and now, his Haydn.
Given the wide range of reviews of this album, from raves to snorts, I decided to check out Hamelin's Haydn playing via my local library rather than Amazon. I can only say, after listening to both discs, that I'm glad I didn't purchase this album.
In piano playing, there is a difference between mechanics and technique, although too many people don't differentiate between the two. Mechanics is the ability to play the notes at the required tempo, with a reasonable degree of accuracy and finesse. Anybody who can play balanced scales, even arpeggios, clean octaves, and the like has mechanical aptitude - and in this area Hamelin exceeds just about everybody in the business. Technique, on the other hand, is the ability to project musical thought via the chosen instrument, whether it be piano, violin, voice, or even the conductor's baton. When it comes to the contents of this album, I can only state that either Hamelin's technique has failed him, or he had no thoughts about this music other than fast tempos, straight-jacketed rhythms, and tonal colors that are all shades of white.
For what is missing from this album are two components essential to performances of Haydn's music: wit and charm - even the minor key pieces have these elements. The little inflections of tempo, slight hesitations and accelerations, dynamic dips and swells, are totally missing here - replaced by the typewriting and sewing machine approach. Maybe Hamelin was bored with this music. Whatever the case, this album left me annoyed and with a headache.
Hyperion's sound is not up to the usual standards for that label. It sounds like the piano was recorded up close and a bath of reverb was added later.
I don't own any complete versions of Haydn's piano sonatas on CD (although I have the scores for many). But for selected Sonatas, I recommend Ax, Schiff, and Brendel. Horowitz has made several recordings of Sonata No. 52 in E-flat (his 1932 recording was the first ever of that piece), and various other sonatas. Rudolf Serkin made a fine recording of Sonata No. 50 in C major, (not easy to find, but worth seeking out). Glenn Gould, also, has made some quirky but enjoyable recordings as well.