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Haydn: Piano Concertos No 3, 4 & 11 / Hamelin

Haydn / Hamelin / Labadie
Release Date: 04/09/2013 
Label:  Hyperion   Catalog #: 67925  
Composer:  Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer:  Marc-André Hamelin
Conductor:  Bernard Labadie
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Les Violons du Roy
Number of Discs: 1 
Length: 1 Hours 2 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews


On this astonishing disc Marc-André Hamelin demonstrates conclusively that a modern piano can do anything a fortepiano can in music of the classical period, while still retaining its superiority in dynamic range, sonority, and the ability to spin out a true, singing legato in the slow movements. Hamelin’s credentials as a major Haydn pianist need no further accolades from me. His six discs (so far) of solo sonatas for Hyperion remain treasures of the Haydn discography. Those same qualities of unaffected liveliness, graceful humor, and virtuoso abandon are equally in evidence here.

It’s a cliché to say that Haydn was not so major a concerto composer as Mozart—no one was. Read more But these three works have plenty of charm and a character all their own. The D major, with its Hungarian finale, is rightly celebrated as the finest of Haydn’s keyboard concertos, but there is plenty to enjoy in the other works as well. Hamelin’s polished technique is placed completely in the service of the music, whether it’s in the brilliance of his passagework, the songfulness of the slow movements, or the gusto of his own cadenzas in the F major and G major works (in the D major concerto he uses delightful cadenzas by Wanda Landowska).

Bernard Labadie and Les Violins du Roy accompany with equal ebullience and precision; they represent just about the best in period string playing, with a tone that is lean and incisive but never raw and scrappy. Both the F major and G major works use strings only, and you really get the sense in these performances that you are listening to a duet: piano and orchestra as equals, thanks in part to the beautifully balanced sonics. There have been excellent Haydn concerto recordings in recent years on Harmonia Mundi and BIS, but forced to choose, I would go with this one for its all around excellence and its characterful realization of Haydn’s genial writing for solo keyboard and orchestra.

– David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1.
Concerto for Keyboard in G major, H 18 no 4 by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer:  Marc-André Hamelin (Piano)
Conductor:  Bernard Labadie
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Les Violons du Roy
Period: Classical 
Written: by 1781; Eszterhazá, Hungary 
2.
Concerto for Keyboard in F major, H 18 no 3 by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer:  Marc-André Hamelin (Piano)
Conductor:  Bernard Labadie
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Les Violons du Roy
Period: Classical 
Written: by 1771; Austria 
3.
Concerto for Keyboard in D major, H 18 no 11 by Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer:  Marc-André Hamelin (Piano)
Conductor:  Bernard Labadie
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Les Violons du Roy
Period: Classical 
Written: by 1784; Eszterhazá, Hungary 

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review:  ( 2 Customer Reviews )
 Masterful playing February 23, 2015 By peter metcalf (kensington, CA) See All My Reviews "Rarely have I heard live or recorded piano playing demonstrating such mastery of the instrument and so fully utilizing that mastery in manifesting the highest musicality. I am enchanted by the music I heard on this CD (Haydn piano concerto #3) recorded by Marc-Andre Hamelin. The orchestra, Les Violons du Roy Bernard Labadie complements Mr. Hamelin's playing as if to the manner manner born." Report Abuse
 Hamelin Loves Haydn February 10, 2014 By G. Loegel (Waxahachie, TX) See All My Reviews "After several discs of Hamelin playing Haydn sonatas, it was wonderful to hear him play the Concertos as well. The all-Canadian combination of Les Violins du Roy and Hamelin provide sparking performances of these works. Haydn's piano concertos are not often played in concerts, so having these lively version available gives listeners something different to enjoy." Report Abuse
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