Who is being sold what and by whom? Is this a recording billed as being part of "The Rosette Collection" on Philips or on Penguin? Is Philips using Penguin's highest rating to sell the disc or is Penguin using Philips' best performances to sell the Guide? Are Philips and Penguin in cahoots to reissue a deep catalog recordings that hasn't been available in too long a time? Possibly a little of both and a lot of the latter, but whatever the case or the cause, the ultimate goal of getting
Alfred Brendel's 1984 recording of three Piano Sonatas, a Fantasia, and an Adagio back in circulation was worth it.
Although sometimes accused of virtuosity at the expense of humanity in other repertoire,
Brendel's performances of Haydn were an exception. Always in command of the details and in control of the long line,
Brendel's Haydn is often lyrical, always expressive, and sometimes almost impulsive. While his technique is never in doubt in the outer movements of the Sonatas,
Brendel's Haydn is at its most characteristic in the singing lines and heartfelt sentiment of the slow movements, and especially the Adagio. Philips' early digital recording was clean and hard in its day and clear and hard in this reissue.