Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 12 in A major, Hob.XVI:12

We have now reached Volume 5 in Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s project to record the complete piano sonatas of Haydn.

Many leading pianists have tackled these, at times technically challenging classical sonatas, but in Bavouzet’s own words, this is a composer who always left the door open for new interpretations: ‘One often forgets how little information Haydn left in the text of his keyboard works: few instructions on nuance and phrasing, and very minimal tempo indications. Playing them is all the more fascinating for that, but it is also arduous and even risky for the performer, who must, even more than usual, create his or her own world and internal logic, only hoping – in the absence of tangible proof – that he or she is not straying too far from the composer’s intentions, forever out of reach.’

This series has been going from strength to strength, every volume receiving consistently excellent reviews.

Richard Burnett plays this tiny Square Piano made around 1800 by Anton Walter in Vienna. It has a full Viennese action and is a true fortepiano in all but size. It is the ideal vehicle for playing the charming Pieces for Musical Clock and other small-scale works. The instrument is one of Richard Burnett's historical collection at Finchcocks in Goudhurst, Kent and never fails to delight their many visitors when played by Mr. Burnett.