Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1: Nos. 59-62

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Naxos began its Haydn series with his last four sonatas, perhaps to tempt listeners into investigating the series. Jenö Jandó, the house pianist for Naxos, has maintained a surprisingly high standard in his many previous recordings, but in Haydn he outdoes himself. He has obviously studied these pieces well, and he plays them as individual works, with intelligent and meaningful characterization of each and a good appreciation of Haydn's sparkling wit. This is indeed a good place to start investigating Haydn's piano sonatas, since each one on this disc is a masterpiece. But so are many of the others in this series. --Leslie Gerber

Tracks:

Sonata No. 59 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: 1: Allegro
Sonata No. 59 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: 2: Adagio e cantabile
Sonata No. 59 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: 3: Finale: Tempo di Minuet
Sonata No. 60 In C Major, Hob. XVI:50: 1: Allegro
Sonata No. 60 In C Major, Hob. XVI:50: 2: Adagio
Sonata No. 60 In C Major, Hob. XVI:50: 3: Allegro molto
Sonata No. 61 In D Major, Hob. XVI:51: 1: Andante
Sonata No. 61 In D Major, Hob. XVI:51: 2: Finale: Presto
Sonata No. 62 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: 1: Allegro
Sonata No. 62 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: 2: Adagio
Sonata No. 62 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: 3: Finale: Presto

Amazon.com

Naxos began its Haydn series with his last four sonatas, perhaps to tempt listeners into investigating the series. Jenö Jandó, the house pianist for Naxos, has maintained a surprisingly high standard in his many previous recordings, but in Haydn he outdoes himself. He has obviously studied these pieces well, and he plays them as individual works, with intelligent and meaningful characterization of each and a good appreciation of Haydn's sparkling wit. This is indeed a good place to start investigating Haydn's piano sonatas, since each one on this disc is a masterpiece. But so are many of the others in this series. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Haydn's glorius music for the Esterhazy Court ........2002-01-15

Haydn was born during the Baroque era, wrote in the Classical form and as he matured, he set the ground work for the Romantic style. His music, like Mozart's, represents the pinnacle of the classical music style.
The piano soantas are pure magic. They can be highly dramatic at times, but they are always grounded in melody. Here they are played by Hungarian pianist, Jeno Jando, with insight, feeling and precision.
Contrary to "kek5"'s review, the sonatas have been recorded by some of the greats, Ptetnev, Schiff and Brendel come to mind.
Naxos needs to be thanked in their efforts to bring the music of Haydn to the public in such high style and at such value driven prices.
If you enjoy the music of Haydn, you may want to check out his string quartets performed by the Kodaly Quartet on Naxos. The Opus Nos. 76 collection includes the "Sunrise" quartet which is one of his most joyful compositons.

Part of a whole body of work awaiting rediscovery........2001-10-27

Poised midway between those of Mozart and Beethoven, Haydn's last piano sonatas (written in the 1790s) have the elegance and intelligence of the former, and, perhaps unexpectedly, the passionate vigour of the latter. The last sonata on this CD especially has the expansive stridency that pushes classicism to its limits as much as Beethoven.

what Haydn brings of his own sensibility is a profound wit. Where his more familiar symphonies and quartets are full of surprises, jokes and musical puns, they do not upset the balance of these works. Here, playfulness is the defining artistic credo, and much of the sonatas' pleasure lies in Haydn's willingness to sidestop the listener, taking him/her in constantly unexpected directions, abruptly changing tempo, following the least likely lines of development. The long adagios are seductively lyrical.

Some may find Jando's playing a little too frenetic or Romantic, but it's refreshing to hear a Haydn that so thoroughly rejects his reputation for gentility.

Haydn's Piano Works Are A Pleasant Surprise.......2000-08-15

I had put off buying any of Haydn's piano sonatas for the simple reason that I had read (in several quarters) that most of the top flight pianists do not take them seriously. Indeed, other than Gould (not exactly the best roadmap at times) I have yet to see names in the league of Perahia, Brendel, Kovacevich, etc. attached to a Haydn recording. Well, as I am a fan of Jeno Jando, I finally took the plunge and bought this disc. My regret is that I waited so long. As a non-musician, I cannot comment on the relative worth of this music other than to say it pleases me greatly, bringing all the attributes I have grown to love about Haydn's music. Jando's performances are clear and well paced...nothing drags or seems rushed, and the Naxos recording is unusually good for that label. I see more purchases of this cycle in my future.

A master at work...........2000-06-13

Simply breathtaking! This is a must for those never formally indroduced to the works of Haydn. I assure you your in for a treat! These pieces each stand out from one another, taking on a life of their own. The listener is taken on a musical journey they won't soon forget.

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