What are you listening to now?

[Quijote]

It's a delight this piece as are Haydn's 'cello concertos.

Glad you liked that. For me, the 2nd movement is what touches me the most.
That said, I can't help seeing Beethoven in my mind's eye snorting at some of the passages in the 1st and 3rd movements...

[Quijote]

A wonderful piece, even better than I remembered from a few years ago when last I listened to it. Despite how much I love Haydn, I am often surprised by the quality of his work when I come back to it after some time. I know the symphonies and string quartets and oratorios will be great, but I often fall into the trap of thinking Haydn's concertos and piano works are kind of 'second tier" compared to his other works, but then I listen again and they never are. This is a really good recording of the piece too.

Glad you liked that.
I'm discovering some real gems among his piano sonatas, too!

[Quijote]

Anyway, we've reached the 5-page limit (6 pages now, mea culpa!) so time for the next installment of the "What are you listening to" thread?

[Peter]

Anyway, we've reached the 5-page limit (6 pages now, mea culpa!) so time for the next installment of the "What are you listening to" thread?

No we now have a 10 page limit! The (Haydn) C minor sonata is a favourite of mine.

[Quijote]

The (Haydn) C minor sonata is a favourite of mine.

Thanks for posting that, a very fine sonata indeed. In my mind's eye I see Beethoven thinking "Not bad, Papa, not bad at all."

[Peter]

Thanks for posting that, a very fine sonata indeed. In my mind's eye I see Beethoven thinking "Not bad, Papa, not bad at all."

Yes one of the Sturm und drang sonatas. From a similar period, the Symphony no.39 in G minor.

[Quijote]

Yes one of the Sturm und drang sonatas. From a similar period, the Symphony no.39 in G minor.

Lovely, lively and HIP, right up my street! Hogwood?

[Peter]

Lovely, lively and HIP, right up my street! Hogwood?

No, Pinnock and The English Concert.

[Quijote]

No, Pinnock and The English Concert.

Well, I love it. F#. Wonder what pitch Hogwood takes? Let me check... Same.
I prefer the Pinnock. Here's the Hogwood:

[Peter]

Well, I love it. F#. Wonder what pitch Hogwood takes? Let me check... Same.
I prefer the Pinnock. Here's the Hogwood:

I agree with you - see what you make of the Adam Fischer version which I think is at pitch?

[Quijote]

I agree with you - see what you make of the Adam Fischer version which I think is at pitch?

Yes, at pitch. I've only listened to the 1st movement. I found the Fischer a bit messy to be honest, with rushed passages in the woodwind (around the 2'30" mark - like ducks quacking around out of time) and exaggerated string phrasing, almost a bit Andre Rieu. Otherwise, yes, nice and lively and that'll carry the work in most cases.

[Quijote]

I wanted to post this before but got distracted...
I've found the Christmas present I'll be offering myself this year: the Virtual Haydn. Check out these extensive CD booklet notes:
https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/bo...NBD0001-04.pdf

[Peter]

I wanted to post this before but got distracted...
I've found the Christmas present I'll be offering myself this year: the Virtual Haydn. Check out these extensive CD booklet notes:
https://www.naxos.com/sharedfiles/bo...NBD0001-04.pdf

Amazing, but why don't they just record in the real rooms as many of those are still in existence?

[Quijote]

Amazing, but why don't they just record in the real rooms as many of those are still in existence?

Yes, I wondered that, too. Still, I'm going to get this set and ponder that question later.

[Quijote]

Reading through the CD booklet I'm prompted to post this wonderful piano sonata by Haydn (Sonata in E Flat Major, Hob XVI 52), his last ever for the piano. It was composed in 1794 and finally published by Artaria in Vienna in 1798. I wonder what Beethoven made of it - he would have had a copy, surely?