Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol.7 – Jean-Efflam Bavouzet

   in Piano International (Nov, 2018)
Bavouzet’s exemplary survey of Haydn’s piano sonatas continues with a finely constructed bouquet of works spanning 1763 (an early ‘divertimento’ and the charming but spurious Sonata No 8) to No 58 of c1790. That eighth sonata sets the stall, its sparkling first movement characterised by the neatness of Bavouzet’s ornamentation, the playful finale simple- textured but stunningly illuminated (all finales of this ilk find a fine advocate in Bavouzet’s cheeky nature).

The fragility of Nos 46 and 58 is remarkable, while booklet annotator Marc Vignal’s comment that the influence of Scarlatti can be felt in Sonata No 13 is absolutely identifiable in Bavouzet’s performance. Menuets take on unaccustomed depth in Bavouzet’s …