Haydn: Keyboard Concerto in F; Keyboard Concerto in G; Keyboard Concerto in D, Hob. XVII:3, 4 & 11

COMPOSERS: Haydn
LABELS: EMI
WORKS: Keyboard Concerto in F; Keyboard Concerto in G; Keyboard Concerto in D, Hob. XVII:3, 4 & 11
PERFORMER: Norwegian CO/Leif Ove Andsnes (piano)
CATALOGUE NO: CDC 5 56960 2

There have been two other recent recordings on modern pianos of this set of three keyboard concertos by Haydn (two, those in G and D, for the piano rather than the harpsichord), one by Elena Mouzalas (not available now) and one by Emanuel Ax (Sony), which is highly regarded. This new set is beautifully played by the young Norwegian pianist, who also directs the excellent Norwegian Chamber Orchestra. The booklet notes contain a series of errors: the Concerto in G does not survive in autograph, but there is an authentic manuscript by Haydn’s copyist Johann Radnitzky of the D major Concerto (now in Bohemia); Mozart was not writing a piano concerto in September 1794 (correctly 1784 only in the French version); the contemporary cadenzas for the D major Concerto are probably not by Haydn. If you want to sample the D major Concerto on the harpsichord, there is a flamboyant pre-war recording by Wanda Landowska and a more recent one by Erna Heiller on Vanguard, very prettily played. But you will certainly not go amiss with this new CD, which is also very well recorded. HC Robbins Landon