Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1 Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

• 1 I. Allegro 07:11
• 2 II. Adagio 03:26
• 3 III. Finale: Presto 02:22
• 4 I. Allegro moderato 06:32
• 5 II. Menuet 03:55
• 6 III. Finale: Presto 04:23
• 7 I. Allegro moderato 11:05
• 8 II. Adagio (cadenza by J-E. Bavouzet) 09:15
• 9 III. Finale: Presto 03:51
• 10 I. Moderato 07:30
• 11 II. Scherzando: Allegro con brio 03:05
• 12 III. Menuet: Moderato 04:49
• Total Runtime 01:07:24

Info for Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Vol. 1

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s complete Debussy cycle has proven to be a real winner with the critics and the record buying public. He now embarks on the Haydn Piano Sonatas, and confirms that he should in no way be pigeon-holed in French repertoire.

Few leading pianists have recorded these virtuosic Classical sonatas but Maestro Bavouzet felt he had something new to contribute. He plays a Yamaha grand, imported from France which he felt best suited the timbre that he wanted to achieve. The programme for Volume 1 contains the experimental and ambitious Sonata in A flat major, No.31; the elegantly virtuosic Sonata in D major, No.39l, expressive Sonata in B minor, No.47 and the almost Schubertian Sonatas in C sharp minor, No.49. Volume Two will be released this autumn.

“This first release in a long-term series offers four sonatas, dispatched with scintillating brightness and many ornamental trills...It’s impossible not to be impressed...by the panache of No 39 in D or the grand carnival of the relatively lengthy No 31 in A-flat.” (The Times)

Sonata No. 39 (Hob. XVI: 24)
in D major - in D-Dur - en ré majeur
I Allegro
II Adagio. Larghetto -
III Finale: Presto
Sonata No. 47 (Hob. XVI: 32)
in B minor - in h-Moll - en si mineur
I Allegro moderato
II Menuet. Tempo di Menuetto - Trio. Minore
III Finale. Presto
Sonata No. 31 (Hob. XVI: 46)
in A flat major - in As-Dur - en la bémol majeur
I Allegro moderato

II Adagio
Cadenza by Jean-Efflam Bavouzet
III Finale. Presto
Sonata No. 49 (Hob. XVI: 36)
in C sharp minor - in cis-Moll - en ut dièse mineur
I Moderato
II Scherzando. Allegro con brio
III Menuetto. Moderato - Trio

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)

Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet combines a rare elegance and clarity in his playing with deep and thoughtful musicality, for which he continues to win the highest acclaim from both critics and audiences.

Recent engagements for Bavouzet have included appearances with the London Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland and Philharmonia orchestras, and the New Japan Philharmonic. He also premiered Bruno Mantovani’s Piano Concerto with Orchestre National de Lille.

Highlights of his 2010/11 season include performances with Philharmonia and BBC Symphony orchestras and make debut appearances with the London Philharmonic and City of Birmingham Symphony orchestras, and the Sydney Symphony with Vladimir Ashkenazy. In spring 2011 he will tour the US with the Orchestre National de France and Daniele Gatti.

An exclusive Chandos recording artist, Jean-Efflam Bavouzet’s discography includes a cycle of Debussy’s complete works for piano, which has been recognised by many international awards, not least of which a Gramophone and a BBC Music Magazine awards in 2009. His most recently released recording of Bartók’s Piano Concertos with the BBC Philharmonic has already received great acclaim.

This album contains no booklet.