Haydn: Piano Trios Nos. 24, 25 "Gypsy Rondo", 26 & 27

Featuring

Anthony Marwood
Richard Lester
Susan Tomes
The Florestan Trio
Joseph Haydn

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Performer Biography

The Florestan Trio, comprising Susan Tomes (piano), Anthony Marwood (violin), and Richard Lester (cello), is a leading piano trio that received Britain's Royal Philharmonic Society Award for chamber music in 2000.

Historical Context

In the late 18th century, there was a thriving market for 'accompanied sonatas' for pianists, with accompanying parts for violin and cello, reflecting the rise of the piano in households.

Composer Biography

Haydn dedicated three trios (Hob XV:24-26) to Rebecca Schroeter, a composer's widow with whom he developed an intimate relationship during his visits to London.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded in Henry Wood Hall, London, from March 27-29, 2008, with Simon Eadon as Recording Engineer and Andrew Keener as Recording Producer.

Compositional Technique

In many of Haydn's piano trios, the violin and cello often double the piano part, with the violin occasionally playing counterpoints or answering phrases, a style sometimes considered 'deficient' compared to later trios.

Historical Context

In 1789, a Viennese newspaper advertised for a servant who could play the violin well and accompany difficult piano sonatas, offering a glimpse into 18th-century domestic music-making.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Joseph Haydn is the only composer whose 'accompanied sonatas' are still regularly played today, as he infused them with as much inventiveness as his mature piano sonatas and string quartets.