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Haydn: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Franz Joseph Haydn, John McCabe
Haydn: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Genre: Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (28) - Disc #1
  •  Track Listings (19) - Disc #2
  •  Track Listings (18) - Disc #3
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #4
  •  Track Listings (11) - Disc #5
  •  Track Listings (17) - Disc #6
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #7
  •  Track Listings (15) - Disc #8
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #9
  •  Track Listings (13) - Disc #10
  •  Track Listings (8) - Disc #11
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #12

Haydn was not a pianist of any distinction, nor a very successful composer of instrumental concertos, but his piano sonatas--and there are more than 60 of them--are much finer than those of Mozart, who was one of his era...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Franz Joseph Haydn, John McCabe
Title: Haydn: The Complete Piano Sonatas
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Decca
Release Date: 6/24/1997
Album Type: Box set
Genre: Classical
Styles: Opera & Classical Vocal, Chamber Music, Forms & Genres, Concertos, Fantasies, Sonatas, Suites, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Sacred & Religious
Number of Discs: 12
SwapaCD Credits: 12
UPC: 028944378528

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Haydn was not a pianist of any distinction, nor a very successful composer of instrumental concertos, but his piano sonatas--and there are more than 60 of them--are much finer than those of Mozart, who was one of his era's greatest keyboard virtuosos. The reason for this is simple. Mozart wrote his keyboard concertos for himself and his sonatas for students. Haydn, on the other hand, was constantly stimulated to write piano music for gifted amateurs, though in those days amateurs were often as good as the professionals, particularly women for whom a concert career was out of the question. This is great music then, charming but never trivial, and John McCabe plays it with impressive style and vigor. --David Hurwitz
 

CD Reviews

Surprising Haydn Flawlessly Played
D. Ansoff | San Diego, CA USA | 10/18/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)

"McCabe offers unforced readings which sparkle and at the same time let the music speak for itself. Here is a Haydn full of his special wit, humor and sometimes drama on a par with Beethoven. First-rate cd transfers throughout. This set actually offers twelve CD's, a complete and consistently lovely journey through the under-appreciated world of Haydn's piano music."
Jawdropping, awesome,..... most of all, beautiful....
05/15/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a truly beautiful set, suitable for desert island listening. Anyone who does not respond to this music and the inspired way it is played by John McCabe has no blood in his body. The London recording of the piano is perfection. The Seven Last Words of Christ by itself is worth the money for the whole set. Haydn rules!!"
The best complete set of Haydn Sonatas at any price
D. Ansoff | 05/22/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Other individual performances may "grab" you more than these, but as a whole I could not find fault with these performances. They are particularly satisfying if you follow with a score - you get to see the choices in ornamentation, dynamics, etc. that McCabe makes compared with what is on the printed page. I did several comparisons with other performers (I own 4 complete sets of these sonatas and several smaller compilations), and McCabe consistently comes out on top overall, in my opinion. Haydn's best sonatas are consistently more inventive, witty, and daring than Mozart's and are definitely worth your attention."