Search - Haydn, Brendel :: 11 Piano Sonatas

Classical refinement: Alfred Brendel playing Haydn

P. Adrian | Arad, Romania | 06/10/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Among his favourite composers, Alfred Brendel has developed a long and fruitful partnership with Joseph Haydn. Exponent of the Viennese Classicism, Haydn seems to be one of the most suitable of composers to Brendel's playing style, from several reasons.



Mainly, both the composer and his interpreter exhibit generously quite similar qualities when making music, such as: an unfailing wit, a refined sense of humour, and a tireless disposition to play - to play with emotions, with unanswered questions, even with philosophical or ethical themes. Yet, in this intelligent game nothing gets strident. Neither dark-hued accents nor colours of despair arise. A smile is never missing, even though the mood of a slow movement in a certain sonata or some variations could be entirely serious. Everything is light, though - or rather for - deep settled in tradition. The equilibrium comes from a special disposal of the musician with regard to inner and outer worlds. Brendel feels and knows how to convey these particular features, like no other Haydn performer. To better understand what I mean, listen to the slow movement of the Sonata in E flat major Hob. XVI: 49 (Andante cantabile) or enjoy the sparkling finale of the C major Sonata Hob. XVI: 50 (Allegro molto).



Furthermore, one can easily notice that Brendel and Haydn share the musical pleasure of professing the classical poise with elegance and gusto. The harmonies seem simple and obvious, whilst the melodic lines breathe an air of inevitability. This deceptive simplicity seduce first. Nevertheless, the lively finger-work displayed by Brendel makes Haydn gain more distinction, more appeal and potentiates glowing facets of his music (like in from Sonata in C minor Hob. XVI: 20).



The coherence of the story and its clarity valuate (in these recordings) Brendel's flair of narration at an unprecedented extent, rivaled only by his accounts for some of the Beethoven sonatas. It is not a casual fact, for instance, that Andante con variazioni in F minor Hob. XVII: 6 figured in Brendel's valedictory recital program (in 2008 when, aged 77, he decided to retire from concert platform, being in full command of his artistry).



Alfred Brendel recorded for Philips all the four discs in this set some thirty years back (1979 - 1986).



Concluding, this CD box set intensifies our joy that we have been contemporaries with such a great musician and delighted witnesses of his concerts. But also the regret that Alfred Brendel chose to retire from performing at a moment when he could still charm his worldwide audiences.

Highly recommended!

"

Lucid, elegant, classic Brendel

Jay | Sarasota, FL USA | 03/21/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"VIVIEN SCHWEITZER has good things to say about this collection in the excellent article of September 10, 2009, in the New York Times entitled Haydn Recordings: A Legacy Reconsidered. The whole article is an omnibus review of favorite Haydn recordings by NY Times reviewers."