Category Archives: Composed 1773

Day 144: The Brilliance of Riko Fukuda

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HaydnCD144Today brings the following:

1. More snow, ice, and high winds,

2. A new performer,

3. Spectacular piano sonatas.

Can’t say much for #1.

It’s been that kind of winter in these parts.

I can say a great deal about #2 and #3.

Today’s performer is Riko Fukuda on fortepiano.

From her web site:

RIKO FUKUDA studied piano and oboe at the Toho-Gakuën conservatory in Japan. A grant from the Dutch government enabled her to study with Stanley Hoogland at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, where she specialised in fortepiano. Her solo recordings of works by Pinto and Dussek on the Olympia label have met with great acclaim, and in 2001 she released two CDs with piano sonatas of Haydn on Brilliant Classics.

Yes, she did. I’m listening to one of them now. And it’s very good.

Riko’s playing is remarkable for its expressiveness and Continue reading →

Day 142: A Change of Pianists

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HaydnCD142It’s funny. I knew it was a different pianist today from the first few notes.

I’ve gotten to the point where I can tell by the sound of the piano, or the style of playing, if it’s someone to whom I’ve been listening or not.

Today’s performer is Yoshiko Kojima on fortepiano.

According to one web site,

Japanese pianist Yoshiko Kojima studied piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in Tokyo and fortepiano at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. Teacher at Tokai University and at the National University of Fine Arts and Music in Tokyo.

She does a masterful job, too.

These selections are crisp and passionate.

The recordings are interesting, too. On track two Continue reading →

Day 139: Lively and Robust

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HaydnCD139Today’s CD features five more Piano Sonatas performed by Ursula Dutschler on fortepiano.

Whereas I didn’t dig yesterday’s compositions and/or performances, I find today’s more enjoyable.

They are much more lively and robust than yesterday’s fare.

I’m sure it helped that Movement I (“Moderato”) of Piano Sonata in C (“Divertimento”) HOB XVI: 10 was a much livelier moderato than I’ve heard before, and the construction of the piece was more intricate. So it was a brisk, commanding way to open the CD.

Movement II (“Menuet”) was also more intricate and lively than other menuets to which I’ve listened.

Movement III (“Finale: Menuetto”) was a fine way to round out this sonata.

Very enjoyable.

Stapert_Playing Before the Lord_pb_wrk01.inddI’d like to interrupt this report with news of my discovery of a just-published book called Playing Before the Lord: The Life and Work of Joseph Haydn by Calvin R. Stapert, professor emeritus of music at Calvin College.

Stapert writes with great love for the subject matter, and unabashedly admits so in his Preface:

You will not have to read very far – in fact you have probably read far enough already – to realize that I love Haydn and think he belongs very near the top of any list of greatest composers…if I am bothered that Haydn’s stock has slipped since the days when he was widely recognized as Europe’s greatest living composer, it is not for his sake. Though at one time it mattered quite a bit to him, he has no such concerns anymore. But it does matter to me.

Stapert’s respect for the subject matter infuses every word of this volume. I wholeheartedly recommend it.

Now, back to my assessment of today’s music.

Movement I (“Allegro”) Continue reading →