HAYDN
Piano Trios Op 71/2 & 3 and Op 73/3.
Jerome Hantai (fortepiano)
with, Philippe Corvert & Alix Verzier.
Astrée Naïve
E 8811 [66 mins]
This is a good account of three of Haydn's piano trios, composed in London.
To give them full stature, all repeats are included. The high merits of Haydn's
piano trios have been overshadowed by the string quartets, partly because
the instruments are not yet cast as equals, the cello usually doubling the
weak left-hand part of the piano of the times. These three trios were composed
1794/95 during his second stay in London. The slow movement of 73/3 in F#
became that of Symphony No 102 and that of 71/2 in Eb was predated by a version
for solo piano.
The particular interest of this production is the use of a fine Broadwood
piano of 1806, which suits the music admirably. Haydn lived during 1791 opposite
the Broadwood workshop, and had a room over the Broadwood premises where
he could work undisturbed and try out the pianos. The music is well played,
balanced and recorded.
Peter Grahame Woolf
