Jean-Efflam Bavouzet – Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 8 (2019) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

After leaving the boys’ choir of St Stephens Cathedral in Vienna, one of the ways the young Haydn found to support himself was as a harpsichord teacher. The three early sonatas featured on this recording were almost certainly intended for his students: short, light pieces with few technical demands. The two larger sonatas, both in the key of E flat major, were written some twenty years later and are far more extensive. Both require significantly greater prowess from the performer, and represent Haydn’s ingenuity and skill to the full.
The two additional works included here, whilst single-movement compositions, are substantial pieces. The Adagio ma non troppo would become the slow movement of Piano Trio No. 36, whilst the Variations on ‘Gott erhalte’ is based on the second movement of the ‘Emperor’ Quartet (Op. 76 No. 3), which is itself a set of variations on an anthem composed by Haydn at the request of an Austrian politician for the 29th birthday of the Emperor, and intended as a patriotic hymn comparable to ‘God Save the King’ in England – and a response against the Marseillaise.

Tracklist:
1 Divertimento in G Major, Hob. XVI:11: I. Presto 01:28
2 Divertimento in G Major, Hob. XVI:11: II. Andante 04:17
3 Divertimento in G Major, Hob. XVI:11: III. Menuet 02:26
4 Keyboard Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:38: I. Allegro moderato 07:52
5 Keyboard Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:38: II. Adagio 03:53
6 Keyboard Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:38: III. Finale. Allegro 02:44
7 Piano Trio in E-Flat Major, Op. 71 No. 2, Hob. XV:22: II. Poco adagio (Original Version for Solo Piano) 04:50
8 Divertimento in C Major, Hob. XVI:10: I. Moderato 03:14
9 Divertimento in C Major, Hob. XVI:10: II. Menuet 02:40
10 Divertimento in C Major, Hob. XVI:10: III. Finale. Presto 02:52
11 Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVII:D1: I. Theme & Variations 03:57
12 Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVII:D1: II. Menuet 50
13 Sonata in D Major, Hob. XVII:D1: III. Finale. Allegro 01:55
14 String Quartet in C Major, Op. 76 No. 3, Hob. III:77 “Erdody, Emperor”: II. Poco adagio cantabile (Version for Piano) 05:44
15 Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: I. Allegro non troppo 09:33
16 Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: II. Adagio cantabile 07:28
17 Sonata in E-Flat Major, Hob. XVI:49: III. Finale. Tempo di menuet 04:18