Disc of the year already?

[Todd]

It's only March, but I think I have a contender already: Anton Kuerti's recording of six of Haydn's sonatas on Analekta.  (Okay, it's a 2008 release, but I didn't even know about it until a few weeks ago.)  Anyway, this disc is a delight from start to finish.  Kuerti plays a nice assortment of sonatas – half early or early-ish, half late – and he reveals himself to be a Haydn interpreter of distinction.  He offers thoughtfulness and introspection where appropriate, but mostly he delivers joyous, often fun and witty, and energetic and rhythmically peppy playing.  His dexterity in some of the fast movements is impressive indeed, but unlike Hamelin he never over-indulges in this aspect.  I can think of few if any Haydn recitals that I like more, and as it happens I'm working my way through Ronald Brautigam's set for a second time, and for my money, Kuerti is clearly better.  The only somewhat disappointing aspect of this disc is the less than stellar sound; it's good, just not state of the art.

This certainly joins a pair of discs of music by Cristóbal de Morales and an old LP of LvB's Opp 10/3 and 57 sonatas played by Russell Sherman on the Pro Arte label as one of the best purchases of the year so far for me.  Great stuff.

[Gurn Blanston]

Thanks for the heads-up, Todd. If Kuerti is clearly superior to Brautigam in Haydn this is a must-hear.



----------------
Listening to:
Accademia I Filarmonici / Martini-Fornaciari - RV 228 Concerto for Violin in D 1st mvmt - Allegro

[Mandryka]

It's a very good recording.

It doesn't have the same joy and playful spirit as Fazil Say's disc, but it's beautiful colourful playing and the speeds and rhythms, and the way he layers the voices, seem to always be just right.

Well worth having I think, even though some of the sonatas on it are ubiquitous.

Thanks for putting me on to it.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thanks. I've been in the market for some good Haydn for some time now.

[Herman]

I was about to order this one, until I noticed this disc, too, closes with the big E flat sonata.

I don't think there are many Haydn piano sonata recordings that do not feature this one, and I just can't bear it anymore. There's almost sixty sonatas to choose from, and everybody chooses this one.

[Dr. Dread]

It's only March, but I think I have a contender already: Anton Kuerti's recording of six of Haydn's sonatas on Analekta.  (Okay, it's a 2008 release, but I didn't even know about it until a few weeks ago.)  Anyway, this disc is a delight from start to finish.  Kuerti plays a nice assortment of sonatas – half early or early-ish, half late – and he reveals himself to be a Haydn interpreter of distinction.  He offers thoughtfulness and introspection where appropriate, but mostly he delivers joyous, often fun and witty, and energetic and rhythmically peppy playing.  His dexterity in some of the fast movements is impressive indeed, but unlike Hamelin he never over-indulges in this aspect.  I can think of few if any Haydn recitals that I like more, and as it happens I'm working my way through Ronald Brautigam's set for a second time, and for my money, Kuerti is clearly better.  The only somewhat disappointing aspect of this disc is the less than stellar sound; it's good, just not state of the art.

This certainly joins a pair of discs of music by Cristóbal de Morales and an old LP of LvB's Opp 10/3 and 57 sonatas played by Russell Sherman on the Pro Arte label as one of the best purchases of the year so far for me.  Great stuff.

I'll wishlist this. I just mentioned Hamelin's Haydn in the Listening thread. I find him a bit detached in these.

[Dr. Dread]

Off topic: How's his Beethoven sonata cycle?

[Todd]

Off topic: How's his Beethoven sonata cycle?

Different people will give different responses, of course, but it is one of the most self-indulgent and bizarre cycles out there.  At his best, Kuerti delivers some truly great stuff - Op 31/1 comes immediately to mind.  At his worst, he's nearly unlistenable - Op 28 comes to mind.  His playing is excellent; his ideas less so.  What I find a bit perplexing is that I have only had a negative reaction to his LvB cycle; every other recording I've tried is excellent, including a later LvB sonata disc. 

[Dr. Dread]

Different people will give different responses, of course, but it is one of the most self-indulgent and bizarre cycles out there.  At his best, Kuerti delivers some truly great stuff - Op 31/1 comes immediately to mind.  At his worst, he's nearly unlistenable - Op 28 comes to mind.  His playing is excellent; his ideas less so.  What I find a bit perplexing is that I have only had a negative reaction to his LvB cycle; every other recording I've tried is excellent, including a later LvB sonata disc. 

Interesting! Thanks for that, Todd.

[Mandryka]

I was about to order this one, until I noticed this disc, too, closes with the big E flat sonata.

I don't think there are many Haydn piano sonata recordings that do not feature this one, and I just can't bear it anymore. There's almost sixty sonatas to choose from, and everybody chooses this one.

I agree.

It's a very good performance though.

But it would have been better if he would have chosen differently.

Thanks. I've been in the market for some good Haydn for some time now.

Then buy Fazil Say

Have you heard Fazil Say's disc? No E flat sonata

Different people will give different responses, of course, but it is one of the most self-indulgent and bizarre cycles out there.  At his best, Kuerti delivers some truly great stuff - Op 31/1 comes immediately to mind.  At his worst, he's nearly unlistenable - Op 28 comes to mind.  His playing is excellent; his ideas less so.  What I find a bit perplexing is that I have only had a negative reaction to his LvB cycle; every other recording I've tried is excellent, including a later LvB sonata disc. 

You can hear his Beethoven here.

http://www.analekta.com/en/album/Beethoven-The-Complete-Piano-Sonatas-Diabelli-Variations.334.html

And you can download individual tracks in extremely high quality MP3 here:

http://www.classicsonline.com/catalogue/product.aspx?pid=566835&affid=67

So Todd, if you suggest a few more good Kuerti performances and I'll download myself a little sampler 

Thanks. I've been in the market for some good Haydn for some time now.

Consider Fazil Say aswell.

[Todd]

Another contender.  And possibly a stronger one than the last one.  Herbert Schuch's debut recording from 2005 is an amazing disc.  Schuch was in his mid-20s when he recorded this, and the artistry he displays is something one might expect from someone a bit older.  Except in one regard: Schuch imposes his personality on the music right from the start.  These are not straight readings of the score.  This isn't surprising given that he states in the liner notes that it's impossible to know the composer's intentions and instead he focuses on what a piece means to him.  For those wanting a just-the-facts recording, this will not do.

For those who like a bit more adventurous playing, Schuch's playing offers much.  First of all there's the seemingly effortless playing.  Schuch seems able to play everything in both Kreisleriana and Miroirs with more than ease.  The most complex passages seem a breeze for him.  Second, there's Schuch's incredible tone.  His palette seems unlimited; his shadings have shadings.  Third, there are his innumerable little touches throughout, playing with tempi and dynamics in sometimes subtle, sometimes more obvious, but always, always intriguing ways.  Schumann's opus is both romantic and modern, with slow playing of immense beauty and fast playing of passion and insight.  The Ravel is probably even more captivating.  Schuch's playing is dazzling at times, with speed and control that even some great Ravelians don't seem to muster.  His freedom with the piece reminds me of Abbey Simon's, but Schuch may be even freer (and better) yet.  Each movement is superb, but the swelling, undulating playing in Une barque sur l'ocean and the rhythmic shifts of Alborada del gracioso are utterly captivating.

Throw in sound quality that is generally outstanding, lacking just a bit of lower-register heft, and this is a disc of not a little merit.  One of my purchases of the year, no doubt.  I've already got another of Schuch's recordings on the way.

[George]

Funny, Todd, I just deleted that CD from my wishlist last week because I couldn't recall why it was there. Looks like I need to put it back in.