Haydn: The Last 4 Piano Trios
Noted musical scholar Charles Rosen calls Haydn's piano trios the most technically difficult piano works before Beethoven's sonatas, and that includes Mozart, who was a pianist. These are indeed extraordinary pieces, and the only thing that has prevented their being far more frequently played is the fact that the cello is used almost exclusively to reinforce the bass of the piano--a combination that sounds wonderful, but isn't much fun for a professional cellist. In fact, Haydn wrote these piece for gifted amateurs, and they have an easy tunefulness and sense of fun that is virtually unmatched by any other composer. These performances have just the right relaxed, genial quality, and the sound is excellent.--David Hurwitz