Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Fazil Say :: Haydn: Sonatas

Say what you will, he's not Haydn

J. F. Laurson | Washington, DC United States | 03/31/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Few composers have more wit and grace than Haydn; consequently Haydn can absorb quite a bit of `external character'. His piano sonatas - as so much of his aevre - are music to be had fun with. Glenn Gould had fun with it and produced a marvelous recording of the last Haydn sonatas (48-52, Sony). Fazil Say now has brought us a disc of Haydn piano sonatas, too - Nos. 10, 31, 35, 37, and 43. They are charmed and charming, they are quirky and delightful. Say can't quite draw the same attention unto himself in the recording studio (which is largely a good thing) but it's not for lack of trying.



His playing reminds a little bit of Mikhail Pletnev's. Odd accents, changes of meter on a whim, impetuous all the way. No harm done to Haydn (although the best of all Haydn interpreters on disc, Alfred Brendel, does none of this and still makes these works sparkle with wit an life), and the added twinkle had me listen again and again. Sadly, beyond the accents, Mr. Say intrudes upon the listener with his humming. It's difficult to believe that this is anything other than the conceit of a self-styled Gould-wannabe, an overt rebel who points at himself and proclaims: "There, look, here you have it, I'm completely rebellious!" It's a studio recording... even if his nature compelled him to hum along music, lest he not be able to play it well, it could be edited out. The fact that it isn't is part and parcel of the strategy with which Say is sold. I'd be lying if I claimed that I wasn't occasionally annoyed with these extraneous sounds (why do pianists - specifically Messrs. Jarrett, Gould, and Say - never hum in tune, either?), but neither did it keep me from wholeheartedly enjoying this disc full of musical sunshine. ¬Caveat emptor; for my part, the disc will remain within grabbing distance on my shelf for a while!"

SUPERB HAYDN

David A. McKellar | Santa Monica, CA United States | 10/08/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a joy this recording of haydn sonatas is!!! It s all here: the requisite touch, the digital dexterity and clarity of articulation and the unique Haydn dance like rythyms and melodies....these performances are elegant, sparkling and witty. Say's wonderful tone is perfectly captured in a lustrous recording by the NAIVE engineers. All in all, it just doesn't get any better than this.

"

Fazil Say Plays Haydn Sonatas

Robin Friedman | Washington, D.C. United States | 05/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Fazil Say (b. 1970) is a young Turkish pianist who has recorded Bach, Beethoven, Gershwin as well as compositions of his own. In this CD, Say offers a recording of Haydn piano sonatas. Say possess a virtuosic technique. He plays these works with great speed and lightness combined with musicality. His performances are quirky and strongly rhythmical. He brings good contrast to staccato and legato playing, his runs are light and smooth and his articulation clear. Say hums throughout these performances which some listeners will find distracting.



Haydn's piano sonatas have been recorded by many outstanding performers. There is always much to be enjoyed by discovering more of these works, and by hearing them performed by a variety of artists. Say's recital consists of five sonatas, each of which are in three movements (Haydn composed several important two-movement sonatas) and in major keys. The sonatas date from the early to middle years of Haydn's compositions for the piano.



The earliest work performed here is a short C major sonata, that probably was composed prior to 1760 and used as a teaching piece. The work opens with a march-like moderato movement followed by a minuet with a light major key theme and a contrasting minor key trio. The quick finale offers some opportunity for showy playing.



The sonata no. 43 in a flat major is an earlier work than its numbering suggests. This sonata has an unusual second movement which has caused many scholars to doubt the sonata's authenticity. It has a slow,quasi-courtly minuet theme with a contrasting, highly lyrical trio section. The lengthy opening movement is marked moderato with a witty main theme, a minor key development and a quiet whimsical close. The concluding rondo is also played quickly and virtuosically with many starts and stops and with an episode in the minor.



The three remaining works on this CD are all middle period Haydn, dating from the mid-1770s to 1780. Each of these works is a joy to get to know. These three works, with their grace, contrasts, and balance constitute prime examples of the "classical style" in music. The slow movements in each of these works are varied and especially notable.



The sonata no. 31 in e-flat major opens with a moderato theme that Haydn varies and expands upon as the movement progresses. Runs and arpeggios contrast with heavy octaves in the bass. The second movement is marked allegretto. The movement has a melancholy feel. It is contrapuntal and linear in character with the hands playing and developing the theme in answer to one another. The work concludes with a set of variations marked presto. The variations flow seamlessly together with a stormy minor key passage near the end.



The sonata in c major no 35 opens with a virtuosic allegro con brio. The movement features an extended development section with a climactic and surprisingly passionate concluding passage. The contrasing second movement, marked adagio, is fulls of trills and ornamentation, as Haydn develops a lyrical, flowing theme over a simple Alberti bass figure in the left hand. A short,lively rondo concludes the sonata.



The sonata no 37 in D major also opens with a virtuosic allegro con brio theme, highly rhythmical, but with only a short running development section. Surprisingly, the middle movement is a largo, highly expressive, sad, solemn, and stately. It is the climax of this outstanding work. The concluding rondo is light and spirited, in contrast to the intensity of the middle movement.



Say offers an excellent, if idiosyncratic, performance of these Haydn sonatas. This CD will have the greatest appeal to those listeners with some prior familiarity with Haydn's piano music.





Robin Friedman"