Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 10 in C major, Hob.XVI:1

Hyperion’s Record of the Month is the third double-volume release in Marc-André Hamelin’s much-praised series of Haydn’s keyboard sonatas. Haydn wrote around sixty keyboard sonatas and this selection of eleven focuses on those from the 1770s, including the great C minor sonata from the composer’s ‘Sturm und Drang’ period, with its dynamic contrasts and virtuoso demands. These are bookended by three from Haydn’s earliest output from the 1750s, most likely penned for his young female pupils to play, and the D major sonata written during the second of the mature composer’s triumphant London visits in 1794.

In all these fascinating, idiosyncratic works, Marc-André Hamelin wears his renowned virtuosity lightly, while playing with understated wit and the elegant, immaculate musicianship that has come to define one of the greatest pianists of our time.

Released in the 200th anniversary year of Haydn’s death, this new release features pianist Tzimon Barto playing a selection of the great Classical composer’s piano sonatas.

Tzimon Barto is celebrated for his “refreshing” approach (American Record Guide) to known repertoire.

Barto’s highly personal approach to these works – which he has devoted himself to for much of his career – enables the listeners to make their own “unexpected encounters” with these works. Making no attempt to be “historically correct,” Barto focuses instead on his discovery of impressionistic elements, as well as inspiration drawn from theatre and painting of the period.

Tzimon Barto is recognised as one of the most radiant and unique personalities in the music world. His two previous recordings for Ondine – keyboard pieces by Rameau (ODE1067-2) and piano works by Ravel (ODE10952) – have received high levels of acclaim; critics have hailed Barto’s musical maturity, superb technique, and endless colour palette.

Since winning the Arthur Rubinstein Competition and the Sidney Piano Competition, Alexander Korsantia’s career has taken him to many of the world’s major concert halls, collaborating with renowned conductors such as Valery Gergiev, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, Christoph Eschenbach, Yuri Bashmet and Paavo Jarvi and orchestras as the Chicago Symphony, the Kirov, Israel Philharmonic and Oslo Philharmonic. He has also given many recitals with renowned violinist Vadim Repin. Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Korsantia has lived in the United States since 1992. He now resides in Boston where he is Professor of Piano at the New England Conservatory. Enjoying great popularity in his country of birth, he performed at the inauguration of Georgian President Saakashvili in 2004.

Korsantia’s live recordings, on two discs, present an attractive programme carefully chosen from recitals he has given since 1995 in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Toulouse, Boston and New York. The first CD features arrangements of Bach by Busoni, Egon Petri and Myra Hess’s famous version of the chorale Jesu, Joy of Men's Desiring, two Piano Sonatas by Haydn and Mozart’s Sonata in C major, KV330 and 20th century Russian and Georgian music. Korsantia has rearranged Gwido Agosti’s magnificent 1934 piano transcription of the last three pieces from The Firebird Suite to reflect more of Stravinsky's original orchestral sound. Stravinsky’s Tango is followed by Giya Kancheli’s Instead of Tango originally written in 1996 for violin, piano, bandoneon and double bass. Kancheli’s own piano arrangement is dedicated to three Georgian pianists, one of them Alexander Korsantia. The second disc is devoted to Sergei Prokofiev: his Pastoral Sonatina and Vision Fugitive, No 11, Op 22 bookend the Piano Sonata No 7 in B flat major and the substantial Piano Sonata No 8.

Three pianos, two from Vienna and one from London, bring to life the original sounds which these, the greatest Classical composers, would have known and expected to hear. Mozart is played on a Hofmann from 1790, Haydn on a Broadwood of 1801 and Beethoven on a Böhm from 1820. All three instruments are held in important museum collections and are played by Martin Souter.

This is volume 25 in this series and this boxed set is dedicated to live recordings by young pianists embarking on international careers. Many of them made their debut at the Ruhr Piano Festival. One of the aims of the festival is not only to invite internationally renowned stars as honoured guests, but also to serve as an international podium for the youngest generation of professional pianists.