Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Allegro
2. Adagio
3. Allegro Molto
4. Allegretto Innocentemente
5. Presto
6. Allegretto Moderato
7. Adagio
8. Finale: Presto
9. Allegro
10. Allegro Di Molto
11. Allegro Moderato
12. Adagio
13. Finale: Presto

Disc 2:

1. Moderato
2. Adagio
3. Finale: Presto
4. Moderato
5. Menuetto-Trio-Menuetto Da Capo
6. Rondo: Presto
7. Allegro
8. Adagio
9. Finale: Presto
10. Allegro Moderato
11. Menuet
12. Finale: Presto
13. Allegro Con Brio
14. Largo E Sostenuto
15. Finale: Presto Ma Non Troppo

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #8392 in Music
• Released on: 2007-02-26
• Number of discs: 2
• Dimensions: .25 pounds
• Running time: 144 minutes

Customer Reviews

The Joy of Music
In my mother's and then later my wife's collection of cookbooks was one called 'The Joy of Cooking.' I can think of no better epithet for this two-CDs-for-the-price-of-one collection of Haydn piano sonatas than 'The Joy of Music.' We know that Haydn was one of the most joyful composers and certainly that adjective applies to his 60 or so piano sonatas (of which there are ten presented here) and there is absolutely no pianist before the public today who conveys the joy of music-making more than Marc-André Hamelin. Even though I would never have dreamed he would bring out a Haydn sonata collection -- one associates him with less-well-known music, usually of the super-virtuoso sort -- I am thrilled that he did. (And come to think of it, Haydn's sonatas aren't as well known as they deserve to be.) Let me say that this set eclipses any other Haydn sonata recordings I know. It's that simple. There is a such superhuman clarity, such grace, such stylish phrasing, pearly runs, precise figurations, such technical aplomb and such high spirits as to allow me no other conclusion.

The contents of the two CDs are representative of Haydn's entire sonata output, with a couple of the masterful late sonatas -- Nos. 50 in C and 52 in E flat -- cheek by jowl with some of the earlier, less experimental ones, such as No. 23 in F.

It's a wonder to me that Haydn sonatas are not more often played or recorded. Perhaps, like the piano trios, it's because there are so many of them. But if you compare the number of recordings and performances of Mozart sonatas with these gems the disparity is astonishing. I find that I turn to the Haydn sonatas in my own listening more often than I do the Mozarts, although I love both sets of sonatas immoderately. And now that we have this group of sonatas played by Hamelin I suspect I'll be doing so even more often; in fact, there has been no other music in my car CD player for the past two weeks. Is it too much to hope that perhaps there will be more Hamelin recordings of Haydn? One can only wish.

It's a lovely gesture, by the way, that Hyperion has chosen to issue this set of two CDs for the price of one. Thank you, Hyperion! And thank you as well for including the enlightening and exhaustive essay on the sonatas by Richard Wigmore.

Very enthusiastically recommended.

Scott Morrison

Haydn and Oysters: the perfect evening
This CD is like a plateful of oysters; delightfully light yet deeply satisfying. Much of Haydn's music conveys a sense of the joy of living, and this disc has it in spades. Hamelin's effortless, filigree-like control of the composer's characterisitc spangle of notes is astonishing, all beautifully captured by a recording of demonstration quality.

I became an admirer of Hamelin having acquired his recording of Brahm's Piano Quartets. His mastery of both composers' music is simply dazzling.

perect Haydn
I have to confess I have not been familiar with Hamelins playing and purchased this CD purely for the sonatas, trusting to luck rather than judgement, though reading through previous reviews did assist a great deal. What a real treat and pleasure this double CD turned out to be! Truly delightful playing, just the right interpretation of these sonatas, and a joy to listen to; so much so, I dug out my Haydn sonatas and felt inspired to relearn them.
This CD has proved so relaxing and enjoyable, I will now make a point of investigating more of Hamelins recordings.