Gramophone Magazine
September 2022
Editor's Choice

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 1 in G major, Hob.XVI:8
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 61 in D major, Hob.XVI:51
Haydn: Fantasia (Capriccio) in C major, Hob. XVII:4
Haydn: Adagio in F major, Hob.XVII:9
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 14 in C major, Hob.XVI:3
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 9 in D major, Hob.XVI:4
Haydn: Capriccio in G major "Acht Sauschneider müssen seyn", Hob.XVII:1
Haydn: Theme and Variations in C major, Hob.XVII:5
Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 62 in E flat major, Hob.XVI:52
Haydn: Allegretto in G major, Hob.XVII:10 (Piano arrangement of Hob.XIX:27)

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s survey of Haydn’s piano sonatas reaches its conclusion with this 11th and final volume. As with the previous releases, the acclaimed pianist has included repertoire from different periods of Haydn’s career to create a recital of interest in its own right, as well as the completion of the series. Jean-Efflam notes ‘It has been eleven years since the launch of this project to present Haydn’s sonatas, not in their chronological order, but as collections juxtaposing works from different periods. The program for this final album was actually the first one to be devised: I wanted to place side by side the very first and the very last sonata. Then the idea of fleshing out the sonata cycle with other major pieces began at volume four, with the addition of the famous Variations in F minor, and finally this last volume is made up of as many sonatas as other types of works. The complete series is thus able to offer music lovers all the sonatas identified to date, together with the other major keyboard works.’