Joseph Haydn - Piano Trios Vol. 2 (Florestan Trio)

Information

Composer: Joseph Haydn

1. Piano Trio in E major, Hob. XV/28: 1. Allegro moderato
2. Piano Trio in E major, Hob. XV/28: 2. Allegretto
3. Piano Trio in E major, Hob. XV/28: 3. Finale: Allegro
4. Piano Trio in E flat major, Hob. XV/29: 1. Poco allegretto
5. Piano Trio in E flat major, Hob. XV/29: 2. Andantino ed innocentemente
6. Piano Trio in E flat major, Hob. XV/29: 3. Finale: Presto assai
7. Piano Trio in E flat major, Hob. XV/30: 1. Allegro moderato
8. Piano Trio in E flat major, Hob. XV/30: 2. Andante con moto
9. Piano Trio in E flat major, Hob. XV/30: 3. Presto
10. Piano Trio in E flat minor, Hob. XV/31: 1. Andante
11. Piano Trio in E flat minor, Hob. XV/31: 2. Allegro "Jacob's Dream"

Florestan Trio
Susan Tomes, piano
Anthony Marwood, violin
Richard Lester, cello

Date: 2009
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67757

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

These are the very last works Haydn wrote for piano trio. All were penned during his second sojourn in London during the years 1794–95, and with a specific pianist in mind, a certain Therese Jansen, who had come from Aachen to London with her father some years before to study with Clementi. At the time of Haydn’s second London trip, she was engaged to an art dealer named Bartolozzi—in fact, Haydn stood witness at their wedding—but this didn’t stop Haydn from engaging in one of his famous dalliances. Now I ask you, wouldn’t a film about Haydn and his London visits be in order? Especially if a good screenwriter could be found to work all of Haydn’s love affairs into the story line. Think Amadeus for the over-60 crowd. It’s a movie that’s long overdue—something for discerning adults who are tired of all the end-of-the-world disaster movies of late. 

In the opening movement of the E-Major Trio, with its delicate texture and fluffy arpeggios, Haydn’s infatuation is unmistakable—a musical love letter, if there ever was one. It certainly helped matters that Mrs. Jansen-Bartolozzi was an accomplished player—the liner notes call her a virtuoso—causing Haydn to write some rather demanding music for the piano. In the second movement of the Eb-Minor Trio (six flats!), the pianist is subjected to many challenges, but also the violinist. It seems that neither Haydn nor Mrs. Jansen-Bartolozzi could stand the German violinist (name unknown) who premiered the work. As a practical joke, Haydn wrote numerous 16th-note passages for the violin that echo the piano part, in an attempt to “show off his poor technique in the upper register.” Reminds me of Mozart and the practical jokes he played on his horn player Leutgeb. 

Note that the cello part in these works is still rather rudimentary; the cello plays the same music as the left hand of the piano for the most part. It remained for Beethoven and Schubert, just a few years later, to liberate the cello from its basso-continuo role in chamber music. 

I look forward to further releases in this series. Recommended. 

-- Christopher Brodersen, FANFARE

More reviews:
BBC Music Magazine  PERFORMANCE: **** / SOUND: ****
https://www.gramophone.co.uk/review/haydn-in-london
http://www.allmusic.com/album/haydn-piano-trios-vol-2-mw0001871346

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Joseph Haydn (31 March 1732 – 31 May 1809) was a prominent and prolific Austrian composer of the Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the piano trio and his contributions to musical form have earned him the epithets "Father of the Symphony" and "Father of the String Quartet". Haydn's work was central to the development of what came to be called sonata form. At the time of his death, aged 77, he was one of the most celebrated composers in Europe. Haydn was a friend and mentor of Mozart, a teacher of Beethoven, and the older brother of composer Michael Haydn.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Haydn

***

The Florestan Trio was a piano trio. Formed in 1995 in London, England, its members were Anthony Marwood (violin), Richard Lester (cello), and Susan Tomes (piano). The Florestan Trio played together for sixteen years and established a reputation as one of the finest piano trios in the world. The Florestan Trio is one of the most-recorded piano trios in the world. Its recordings on Hyperion have received outstanding reviews; all their discs have been nominated for Gramophone Awards. Their final series of concerts was given at the Wigmore Hall in London in January 2012.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florestan_Trio
https://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A92

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!