Search - Franz Joseph Haydn, Philippe Entremont, Wiener Kammerorchester :: Joseph Haydn: Piano Concertos

Enjoyable concertos from "Papa" Haydn

Al Chartreux | Upper West Side, New York, New York United States | 03/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Haydn, despite his lofty position as the initiator of the Classical style and his immense and consistently excellent compositional output, is still not recorded today as often as Mozart or Beethoven. For example, there are only two complete recorded cycles of his piano sonatas, compared to a vast number for the sonatas of Mozart and Beethoven. Doubtless this stems from the fact that Haydn does not possess the same "name recognition" in the general public consciousness. Hopefully this will change in time, and that is why it's always a pleasure for me whenever I come across his music on CD. This 2-disc set of piano concertos is well played by Phillipe Entremont, who I confess I'd never heard of before. He plays with distinction and captures the humour and playfulness that characterize much of Haydn's music. The set is a good value as well, since it's priced as a "2-for-1." The quality of the recording is quite good."

Haydn's music makes my soul sing

R. W. | Oregon | 01/02/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I rediscovered Haydn through this recording by Philippe Entremont and have since purchased Haydn's complete symphonies (Fischer), his complete string quartets (Angeles String Quartet), his complete piano sonatas (McCabe) and his complete piano trios (Beaux Arts Trio).



While I love Beethoven, Dvorak, Brahms, Haydn is the composer that I can listen to at any hour of the day or night, while I'm rushing about getting ready for work or before drifting off to sleep. If I'm sad or discouraged, stressed or over-loaded, his music is a comforting balm to my soul. If I'm happy, Haydn picks me up and carries me still higher.



These piano concertos by Haydn are glorious music played gloriously by Mr. Entremont. They are richly textured, delightful, surprising, passionate, profound, and infused throughout with joy.



At so many places on these concertos, as I listen to Mr. Entremont's playing, I feel like I'm listening to cascading streams of liquid silver moonlight."