Day 144: The Brilliance of Riko Fukuda

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 delicate touch, especially in Track #4 (Movement I – “Moderato” – of Piano Sonata in C Minor HOB XVI: 20). Lots going on in that movement.

Movement I of that particular piano sonata almost seems like a little concert all its own. It has various sections and moods and swelling passages that remind me of something from Chopin. It’s a spectacular piece of music. Instant FAVORITE!

Movement II (“Andante con moto”) from that same sonata is also quite good, despite its slower tempo.

Movement III (“Finale: Allegro”) is also quite fetching.

There’s something different about today’s sonatas. They have more depth and complexity than others I’ve heard. These are spectacular.

Ditto for Movement I (“No title”) of Piano Sonata in D (“Divertimento”) HOB XVI: 4. That lasts 4:24, yet it covers a delightful range of tempi and mood.

Piano Sonata in E (“Divertimento”) HOB XVI: 31 was also quite nice. In fact, it’s my second favorite piece on this CD. All three movements are a joy to experience.

Today’s weather? Not so much.This is my view out of the window at Panera Bread:

SnowHere’s what I listened to today:

Haydn Piano Sonata in C HOB XVI: 21 (Composed 1773)

Haydn Piano Sonata in C Minor HOB XVI: 20 (Composed 1771)

Haydn Piano Sonata in A HOB XVI: 26 (Composed 1773)

Haydn Piano Sonata in D (“Divertimento”) HOB XVI: 4 (Composed before 1776)

Haydn Piano Sonata in E (“Divertimento”) HOB XVI: 31 (Composed 1776)

This time, I provided the second piano sonata. It was more interesting to me than the first. I’m sure if you let your fingers do the walking over to YouTube that you’ll be able to find the rest of today’s musical selections.

NOTE: Only six days left listening to the complete works of Joseph Haydn!

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