The Strad Recommends: Stefan Tarara, Eun-Sun Hong: Haydn

THE STRAD RECOMMENDS

The Strad Issue: November 2025

Description: Plenty to enjoy in this latest instalment of a slowly evolving cycle

Musicians: Stefan Tarara (violin) Eun-Sun Hong (cello) Josu de Solaun (piano)

Works: Haydn: Piano Trios vol.9: nos.11, 12, 30, 32 and 34

Catalogue number: NAXOS 8.573623

Naxos is taking its time surveying Haydn’s piano trios – the Kungsbacka’s first volume appeared as long ago as 2011 – and now German violinist Stefan Tarara, Korean cellist Eun-Sun Hong and Spanish-American pianist Josu de Solaun contribute the ninth instalment of the series.

In alternating early works with late, covering a period of over three and a half decades, this ensemble demonstrates Haydn’s inexhaustible invention. There’s no hint of the tyro learning his craft in works in E flat (no.12, c.1760) and E (no.11 – earlier yet), which aren’t out of place in the company of the F major (no.30) from 1790 or a pair of 1793/4 works composed for the nimble fingers of Maria Theresa Esterházy.

The piano may remain the central focus but the string parts are far from the dispensable add-ons of popular perception. Tarara is as likely as Solaun to take the lead, his sparing use of vibrato and the slight edge to the tone of his 1721 ‘Kreisler’ Stradivari contrasting with the warming contributions of Hong’s 1710 Testore, all captured spaciously in the auditorium of the Valencia Conservatoire.

Haydn’s still-underestimated trios provide nothing but constant pleasure and this ensemble’s sensitive, responsive, occasionally cheeky performances (with all repeats observed) do them full justice.

DAVID THREASHER