Sonatas for fortepiano from 1776

• This CD is the sequel to our recording with Jacques Ogg of a series of Sonatas for harpsichord by Haydn, entitled "Harpsichord Sonatas from before 1770" (Globe GLO 5073). Of this recording the authoritative magazine Early Music wrote "This recording exemplifies what is most exciting about Haydn's early music in a perormance that is truly memorable".

• The sonatas on this CD are the first which Haydn wrote with the at that time still very new fortepiano with execution indications for forte, piano etc, in his scores.

• The recording was made with an original fortepiano from around 1780, one of the best sounding instruments to be found anywhere in the world, and beautifully restored to its original state by the renowned Edwin Beunk from Enschede, who also provides such artists as Malcolm Bilson and Melvin Tan with their original instruments.

Jacques Ogg was born in Maastricht and studied harpsichord at the Conservatory in his city of birth with Anneke Uittenbosch. In 1970 he went to study with Gustav Leonhardt at the Amsterdam Sweelinck Conservatory, from which he graduated in 1974. Not only as harpsichordist but also as forte piano player, he appeared all over Europe and in North and South America as well as Japan. He is the regular accompanist of eminent musicians such as Wilbert Hazelzet, Anner Bijlsma, Max van Egmond, Ricardo Kanji and Alda Stuurop and member of several leading baroque ensembles like Les Élements Amsterdam, Concerto Paletino, Quartetto Amsterdam and Quintetto Domenico. Jacques Ogg is professor at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague and at the Academy for Ancient Music in Amsterdam. He also regularly gives master classes in Cambridge, Granada, Madrid (EI Escorial), Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo.