Haydn was keen to ensure his works were properly represented in print, as shown by a letter to his publisher Artaria in 1780 where he requested careful study of corrected proofs.
Performer Biography
Roman Rabinovich, the pianist on this album, made his Israel Philharmonic debut at age ten under the baton of Zubin Mehta.
Composition History
Haydn's earliest sonatas were initially intended as teaching pieces for his students, and he sometimes titled them 'Partita' or 'Divertimento' rather than 'Sonata'.
Performer Biography
Pianist Roman Rabinovich is also a composer and visual artist, often including his own compositions and artwork in his recital programs and recordings.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Haydn's piano sonatas are distinguished by their wit and humor, a quality often overlooked by pianists, which adds a dimension of personal engagement to the music.
Composer Biography
Franz Joseph Haydn wrote his 62 piano sonatas between the mid-1750s and the mid-1790s, with the last one composed in 1795 during his second visit to London.
Critical Reception
An English critic in 1784 believed Haydn's published sonatas parodied the style of Carl Philip Emmanuel Bach, while a German critic four years earlier praised their 'highly pleasing mood and entertaining wit'.
