Six Sonates & Pieces Pour Le Piano-Forte 1782-1797

This recording features pianist Paul Badura-Skoda performing a selection of Joseph Haydn's sonatas on historical instruments. Released under the Astrée label, a French imprint renowned for its commitment to early music and high-fidelity sound, this disc reflects the late 20th-century movement toward historically informed performance practice. Badura-Skoda was a leading scholar-performer of his time, deeply invested in recreating the sonic qualities of the eighteenth-century fortepiano rather than relying on modern concert grands.

The album serves as a masterclass in Classical-era keyboard literature, specifically showcasing the evolution of Haydn’s compositional style between 1782 and 1797. Astrée's production choice to highlight the nuances of the fortepiano captured the intimacy and percussive clarity essential to Haydn's writing. Upon its release, the recording was well-regarded by critics for its technical precision and the scholarly depth Badura-Skoda brought to the period-appropriate interpretation of these seminal keyboard works.