Search - Haydn: Piano Works [DVD Video] on DVD

First rate

Dr. J. J. Kregarman | Denver, Colorado United States | 08/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Andras Schiff plays 6 of Haydn's piano works on a Boesendorfer piano: Capriccio in G, Sonata in e, Fantasia in C, Sonata in c (1771), Variations in f, and Sonata in E flat. Each performance before an audience at the Esterhazy Castle is preceded by a talk with demonstrations about the work in question which, in turn, is preceded by a bit of film about Haydn and the Esterhazys. The good news is that all performances are first rate and stand up well to some rather stiff competition on CDs. The sound is quite good and the camera angles for the performance OK and, in general, watching Schiff in action added to my enjoyment; although I would have prefered a few less shots of Schiff's hands as seen from below the keyboard. The concert was done in 2005. The only bad news is that I have yet to find a way to just play the concert without the film or talks."

Not to be Missed.

Abel | Hong Kong | 04/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Hungarian pianist Andras Schiff recently performed works by Beethoven, Schubert abd Bach in the place where I live. The audience as well as critics raved rapturously on his performance in the recital on 1st March.
This DVD of Schiff's Haydn is another recording by him of this work since his dual-CD made in 1997.
I must say that this 2005 performance of Haydn represents an even more alert and mature reading than Schiff's own previous recording on CD.
Rather than wishing to eliminate the visual parts and the talking parts, I would say that both aspects greatly enhanced the audience's understanding of the composer as well as the compositions played here.
Schiff having recently made a complete round of performance of Beethoven's sonatas, is able here to draw on references between the two composers as well as bringing home to his audience the 'causal' connections of the two composers' works.
Then, of course, the performances of the pieces are absolutely fantastic. The touching, phrasing, nuances, the formal insights on these pieces all surpassed Schiff's own exalted standard in his earlier recording, and indeed on any pianist currently active in performance.
Not to be missed by any means."