[.ca] Piano Sonatas/Schiff

Essential Haydn:
Andras Schiff is a performer I have long admired, and this disc doesn't disapppoint. Whereas other pianists like Alfred Brendel may take a more dramatic approach to Haydn's wonderful piano sonatas, I feel Schiff's delicacy and spirituality (especially in the slow movements) reaches more deeply into this composer's music. These are generously filled discs and I do hope that Schiff and Teldec will consider embarking on a complete cycle of Haydn's sonatas.

This is the best Haydn sonata set on the market!:
Schiff is, with Perahia, one of my favourite keyboard artists. He has colour, elegance, and something close to charm--whatever it is, it's something that Pollini definitely does not have! I haven't heard Brendel's Haydn recordings (one of Gramophone's 100 greatest recordings), a 4-cd set that is apparently only available in the UK. But, of all other Haydn sonata recordings, including Andsnes on EMI (good, but a bit overrated) and Jandos on Naxos (quite good, especially for the price), Schiff is the clear winner--he has the full measure of each piece, and the recording of the C Major Fantasia in particular is gorgeous, sublime! Haydn is one of my favorite composers, and this two-disc set of the major late sonatas now ranks up there in my collection with the Mosaiques' recordings of the Haydn quartets--and that's saying something! I urge you to hear these wonderful discs.

Blameless interpretations of gem-like sonatas:
This CD never, ever fails to get a comment in the house "Ohh! What's that wonderful piano music!" Yes, it's the Haydn again and it's Andreas Schiff. Though these sonatas seem musically to be not so complex, they require sterling technique and musicality to bring out their gem-link beauty. Schiff does that to perfection here. I play this piano set oftener than most other piano solo CD's I own, and I never was a particularly rabid Haydn fan. That's how good this is. Highly Recommended

• Sonata No.32 In G Minor, Hob. XVI:44: Moderato
• Sonata No.32 In G Minor, Hob. XVI:44: Allegretto
• Sonata no.54 In G Major, Hob.XVI:40: Allegretto innocente
• Sonata no.54 In G Major, Hob.XVI:40: Presto
• Sonata No. 53 In E Minor, Hob. XVI:34: Presto
• Sonata No. 53 In E Minor, Hob. XVI:34: Adagio
• Sonata No. 53 In E Minor, Hob. XVI:34: Vivace molto innocentemente
• Sonata No. 58 In C Major, Hob. XVI:48: Andante con espressione
• Sonata No. 58 In C Major, Hob. XVI:48: Rondo
• Sonata No.33 In C Minor, Hob.XVI: 20: Moderato
• Sonata No.33 In C Minor, Hob.XVI: 20: Andante con moto
• Sonata No.33 In C Minor, Hob.XVI: 20: Finale: Allegro
• Fantasia In C Major, Hob. XVII:4: Presto
• Sontata No. 59 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: Allegro
• Sontata No. 59 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: Adagio e cantibile
• Sontata No. 59 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: Finale: Tempo di Minuet
• Sontata No. 60 In C Major, Hob. XVI:50: Allegro
• Sontata No. 60 In C Major, Hob. XVI:50: Adagio
• Sontata No. 60 In C Major, Hob. XVI:50: Allegro molto
• Sontata No. 61 In D Major, Hob. XVI:51: Andante
• Sontata No. 61 In D Major, Hob. XVI:51: Finale: Presto
• Sontata No. 62 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: Allegro
• Sontata No. 62 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: Adagio
• Sontata No. 62 In E Flat Major, Hob. XVI:52: Finale: Presto