Haydn: Complete Keyboard Sonatas Volume 1

Geoffrey Lancaster (fortepiano)

Haydn: Piano Sonata No. 32 in G minor, Hob.XVI:44 Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Hob.XVI:46 Piano Sonata No. 33 in C minor, Hob.XVI:20 (each sonata is preceded by a prelude, either by Lancaster himself or from various sources contemporary with the composer)

2009 is the bicentenary of the death of Joseph Haydn, and to commemorate this anniversary Tall Poppies and Geoffrey Lancaster have embarked upon the complete keyboard sonatas. Lancaster has performed the complete sonatas in concert series in Melbourne and Canberra this year, and has been recording the works in Canberra using instruments from the collection of historic keyboard instruments housed in the Canberra School of Music. If you thought Haydn was a dull and predictable composer, this CD will change your mind most thoroughly. Lancaster plays with amiable virtuosity, embellishing as he goes, and finding all the latent humour and passion in these magnificent sonatas. His performances bring clarity and musical understanding to these works, with the fortepiano responding the gusto to the drama and emotion in the music. Tall Poppies is proud to announce that the covers for this series will feature paintings by Australia’s great painter, Fred Williams, giving this series a uniquely Australian flavour. The initial CDs have been generously supported by the Friends of the Canberra School of Music.