Trois Sonates Pour Le Piano-ForteTrois Sonates Pour Le Piano-Forte (Ut Majeur, H.XVI.35 - Ut Dièse Mineur, H.XVI.36 - Ré Majeur, H.XVI.37)

These piano sonatas by Joseph Haydn, specifically H.XVI.35, 36, and 37, were composed during the mid-1770s, a period reflecting Haydn's transition toward a more expressive and virtuosic keyboard style. The 1983 release on the Astrée label features the esteemed Austrian pianist Paul Badura-Skoda, a scholar and performer renowned for his dedication to historical performance practices. By utilizing period-appropriate instruments, the recording aimed to recapture the clarity and nuances intended by Haydn, diverging from the heavier textures often applied to his works in the late 20th century.

Astrée, founded by Michel Bernstein, earned a reputation for high-fidelity recordings and a commitment to authentic soundscapes. Paul Badura-Skoda’s interpretation on this disc was received as a significant contribution to the Haydn discography, praised for its intellectual rigor and technical precision. The release serves as a bridge between the burgeoning early music movement of the 1980s and the established classical recording tradition, highlighting the intimacy of the fortepiano in domestic settings.