Haydn Keyboard Sonatas

[SonicMan46]

A nice thing about Schornsheim set is that it also includes a lengthy interview with her (in German) about the music and the instruments she played for the recordings.

Hi Grazioso - I've owned her Haydn Keyboard Sonata set for a while now and was hoping that there would be 'some type' of English offering (verbal or written) of her interview (I can't do German, unfortunately) - so, would be quite curious if anyone has possibly found an English option?  If so, I'd love to have a link - 

[DavidW]

Hello Que - now I know that the listening will take a little time, but I believe that you also own the Christine Schornsheim package (inserted above, right) - any comparison comments would be greatly appreciated; I have her set, but have been 'eyeing' the other as an alternate!    Dave

Dave, I think there is a HIP fortepiano set in Brilliant's Haydn Edition as well.

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I think there is a HIP fortepiano set in Brilliant's Haydn Edition as well.

Hi David - thanks for the comment above - but I probably already own more than half of those CDs already in that box!    And, of course have plenty of other Haydn discs - not as interested in his choral works/songs/operas, so probably would be better for me to just 'fill-in' as needed.  However, I was curious about the solo keyboard works and found a description from Fanfare (quoted below) for those who may be interested (on the Arkiv Music site w/ much more detail about that BIG box).  Now, if BC came out w/ just those 'keyboard performances', then I might make a purchase - hmmm - Dave 

"the solo keyboard music, played on various fortepianos. Brilliant divides the 52 sonatas more or less evenly among five artists: Bart van Oort, Ursula Dütschler, Stanley Hoogland, Yoshiko Kojima, and Riko Fukuda; each gets to play one of the five great sonatas. The pianists are obviously connected: they share instruments from each other's collections, Fukuda studied with Hoogland, and the sonatas were recorded at more or less continuous sessions in September and October of 2000 in an old Utrecht church now used as a museum. Five CDs of other keyboard pieces are played by van Oort, recorded in another Dutch church in 2007 and 2008. I recently reviewed (perhaps in this issue) Ronald Brautigam's Haydn on BIS, also on 15 CDs. Brautigam's fortepiano is far brighter than the ones used here, and also has more potent low notes; by comparison, it seems almost a piano. His playing of the faster movements tends to be more brilliant than the playing on this set; the Brilliant Classics performances tend to look back to the early sonatas, the BIS look forward. Yet there are notable differences among the fortepianists here: van Oort is conservative yet elegant, always on the money and never at odds with one's expectations; Dütschler is just the opposite—her tempos can be slow, her phrasing square, and she has no use for legato. It's a shock at first, but when one becomes accustomed to her ways, she throws some fascinating light on the sonatas she plays. When she reaches the well-known Hob XVI:49 in E♭, however, she reverts to a consensus interpretation. Fukuda plays stylishly except for the great C-Minor Sonata, Hob XVI:33. Her opening Moderato is very slow, she ignores most dynamic indications but exaggerates every other marking, inserts an unwritten little cadenza at one point and many uncalled-for pauses; then she ignores the second repeat. To my ears, she is playing the notes but not the music. Everyone plays most repeats except in Menuets da capo, but there are differences: Brautigam's performances conform to my Dover scores, these do not. Van Oort plays a second repeat in the opening Allegro of Hob XVI:33 in D, one that is not indicated by Dover. Brautigam plays the second movement of Hob XVI:1 in C at Dover's Andante (in 2:50); van Oort's playing and label is Adagio (3:35). On at least one occasion, van Oort's subtlety trumps Brautigam's brilliance: In Hob XVI: 12 in A, the Menuet's Trio switches to minor; van Oort observes the p and legato markings, and the moment is breathtaking; Bautigam plows ahead, and it passes almost unnoticed. Such comparisons are made difficult by the layouts of the two sets. BIS has the sonatas in chronological order (in so far as we know it), and its booklet specifies both the Landon number (1–62) and the Hoboken number for each. Brilliant has the sonatas organized by performer (two CDs for each), so the order is random; furthermore, individual envelopes list only the key and the Hoboken identification, making crosschecking and locating the score a frustrating, time-consuming exercise. Suffice to say that both sets are first-rate, and there is no way to choose between them."

[Opus106]

Now, if BC came out w/ just those 'keyboard performances', then I might make a purchase - hmmm - Dave 

Dave, I think you are looking for this and this.

[SonicMan46]

Dave, I think you are looking for this and this.

Hi Opus - yep & thanks!     Right after my post, I did some searching and found that BC had already released the 'solo piano' works; so now I need some comments on how the performances in that 'sub-box' compare to the others discussed previously - decisions, decisions -    Dave

[George]

Hi Opus - yep & thanks!     Right after my post, I did some searching and found that BC had already released the 'solo piano' works; so now I need some comments on how the performances in that 'sub-box' compare to the others discussed previously - decisions, decisions -    Dave

I haven been slowly picking up the Badura Skoda Haydn and Beethoven CDs. Haven't had a chance to check them out yet. I also got the highly recommended Brendel Philips 4 CD set of Haydn sonatas. Let's not forget Richter's Haydn, OOP but well worth seeking out.

[Bulldog]

Hi Opus - yep & thanks!     Right after my post, I did some searching and found that BC had already released the 'solo piano' works; so now I need some comments on how the performances in that 'sub-box' compare to the others discussed previously - decisions, decisions -    Dave

It's an excellent box of Haydn's solo keyboard sonatas; I reviewed it on MusicWeb three or four years ago.  Given the tiny price, you can't go wrong.

[SonicMan46]

It's an excellent box of Haydn's solo keyboard sonatas; I reviewed it on MusicWeb three or four years ago.  Given the tiny price, you can't go wrong.

Don - much thanks for mentioning your excellent review, which I just finished reading - for those interested, located HERE - certainly a worthy set for the price being asked!     Dave

[Antoine Marchand]

Don - much thanks for mentioning your excellent review, which I just finished reading - for those interested, located HERE - certainly a worthy set for the price being asked!    Dave

This is the link referred by Dave:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2003/may03/Haydn_sonatas_brill.htm

This one and the piano trios set ( ) are my preferred BC boxsets; although I don't know the recordings devoted to the works for baryton.

[Herman]

There's another 2cd by Marc-Andre Hamelin coming.

[SonicMan46]

Antoine - thanks for that additional link; both were written by Don - your link is on the Brilliant set, while the other does some comparison discussion w/ other options - both are useful - 

BTW - I put in an order w/ MDT for the Brilliant set - was just shipped, so should be arriving soon!     Dave

[Franco]

I was looking for the Christine Schornsheim Haydn Keyboard Sonatas, and found the box on Amazon for $85, then they were offering the MP3 for $8.99.  I don't usually buy MP3s, but there is such a huge price difference I am sorely tempted.  It's actually split into two $8.99 downloads, but still $85 : $18 - big difference. 

Is the box available somewhere for less than full price?

[jlaurson]

I was looking for the Christine Schornsheim Haydn Keyboard Sonatas, and found the box on Amazon for $85, then they were offering the MP3 for $8.99.  I don't usually buy MP3s, but there is such a huge price difference I am sorely tempted.  It's actually split into two $8.99 downloads, but still $85 : $18 - big difference. 

Is the box available somewhere for less than full price?

Minus VAT, this will be considerably cheaper, even with transatlantic shipping. But if you look around, you might find better deals, yet.
http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Joseph-Haydn-S%E4mtliche-Klaviersonaten/hnum/2850719

[DavidW]

I was looking for the Christine Schornsheim Haydn Keyboard Sonatas, and found the box on Amazon for $85, then they were offering the MP3 for $8.99.  I don't usually buy MP3s, but there is such a huge price difference I am sorely tempted.  It's actually split into two $8.99 downloads, but still $85 : $18 - big difference. 

Is the box available somewhere for less than full price?

I think I bought it from mdt for $15, that was a few years ago though.

[Gurn Blanston]

I was looking for the Christine Schornsheim Haydn Keyboard Sonatas, and found the box on Amazon for $85, then they were offering the MP3 for $8.99.  I don't usually buy MP3s, but there is such a huge price difference I am sorely tempted.  It's actually split into two $8.99 downloads, but still $85 : $18 - big difference. 

Is the box available somewhere for less than full price?

I don't see it right now, but it was available for over a year at BRO for $29. They may well get it back in stock.

[jlaurson]

I don't see it right now, but it was available for over a year at BRO for $29. They may well get it back in stock.

That's when Capriccio was out of business due to bankruptcy of its parent, Delta Music. But Phoenix Records has since acquired Capriccio again, so  remaining stock isn't sold off by an liquidator and may not necessarily re-appear at Broinc quite so soon, if at all.

[SonicMan46]

I don't see it right now, but it was available for over a year at BRO for $29. They may well get it back in stock.

Yes, acquired my set from BRO for about the price quoted above by Gurn - just checked their website and not listed at the moment; Jens comment may be an issue for BRO, so best to check other sources but periodically check back there - who knows into today's music market?  Good luck - the set is superb, esp. if acquired @ a bargain! 

[Franco]

I get the emails from Broinc and will continue to check there.  I am not in a hurry.  Thanks for the info.

[The new erato]

You may be interested to know that this set:



is available at prestoclassical at 23 Euros, which is more or less half price of what I've usually seen it during the years. A quick check at mdt and a couple of other places haven't uncovered another price remotely near it. Of course this may just be a preamble to it being given away by Brilliant, but who knows?

[jlaurson]

You may be interested to know that this set:



is available at prestoclassical at 23 Euros, which is more or less half price of what I've usually seen it during the years. A quick check at mdt and a couple of other places haven't uncovered another price remotely near it. Of course this may just be a preamble to it being given away by Brilliant, but who knows?

Not quite. You got the Decca-Originals budget priced, spanking new re-issue, which shows they've finally come made this available at a lower price than the Philips original had been at. Of course, they couldn't continue to sell the Philips anymore (since the name is no longer theirs), so they had to do something.