Pawel Siwczak fortepiano

This Haydn’s Sonata is one of only a few composed in a minor key and the only one in C minor. This first movement starts with a personal, slightly melancholic figure that, rhetorically, represents a “sighing gesture”, with beautifully singing parallel thirds and sixths. After the repetition in the lower octave, Haydn lifts the mood with a scale up and a change of the affect into a brighter one and takes us to a poignant recitative-like Adagio. The development takes a dramatic turn, more commonly associated with the C minor key, but unexpectedly transforms into an incredibly gentle and tender sequence. The left hand arpeggio accompanies the cantabile phrases in the treble, but gradually develop into a more rapid fortissimo passage. The recapitulation comes unexpectedly and meanders through more anxious moods interrupted with another recitative-like section. The movement ends with a series of ominously repeated octaves in the left hand, underpinning the sadness and nostalgia of this piece.

Pawel plays this Sonata on a fortepiano, a copy of Walter & Sohn piano from Vienna, from the composer’s era. The instrument (built by Paul McNulty) allows for unparalleled transparency and clarity of articulation, at the same time showcasing the range of colours: from rich bass, to singing trebles and a true una corda that, in this context, sounds like a human voice broken with tears and exhausted with sorrow.

Pawel’s performances are diverse, ranging from solo recitals to conducting from the keyboard, and collaborations with orchestras and ensembles.

He thrives working with other art disciplines: his project with a PC Music artist Danny Harle was featured by BBC Radio among “Five of the BBC’s weirdest live sessions ever”, a concise summary of Pawel’s experimental spirit combined with traditional classical training.

He is a teacher at the Royal Academy of Music and a director of Bach Club.

Pawel puts emphasis on the storytelling power of the language of music; the sheer ability to communicate expressively with the audience is key to him.