This new recording by pianist Matthieu Idmtal shines a fresh light on the piano sonatas of Joseph Haydn, revealing a composer of boundless imagination, wit, warmth and emotional depth. Far from the often predictable image of Classical elegance, these works unfold as vibrant musical conversations filled with surprise, humour, tenderness and dramatic intensity. Especially in the hands of Idmtal who is a refined piano poet! Drawn to Haydn’s music during a deeply personal and reflective period, he discovered in these sonatas a source of comfort and renewal - “a balm for the soul, an antidote to melancholy.” Through four carefully chosen sonatas, he invites listeners into Haydn’s endlessly inventive world.

Recorded at the outstanding Westvest90 studio in Schiedam, The Netherlands - renowned for its exceptional acoustics and warm, natural sound - this album captures both the intimacy and theatrical energy of Haydn’s music with remarkable clarity and depth. Idmtal’s sensitive and deeply personal interpretations bring new life to these masterpieces, from the sparkling wit of the late sonatas to the darker, near-Beethovenian intensity of the Sonata in B minor. The result is a recording that not only celebrates Haydn’s genius, but also reaffirms the timeless joy, humanity and emotional richness at the heart of his music.