Search - Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Samuel Friedmann, Russian Philharmonic Orchestra :: Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Samuel Friedmann, Russian Philharmonic Orchestra
Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25: 1. Molto allegro con fuoco
2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25: 2. Andante
3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 25: 3. Presto
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40: 1. Allegro appassionato
5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40: 2. Adagio
6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in D minor, Op. 40: 3. Finale: Presto scherzando
7. Capriccio brillant for piano and orchestra in B minor, Op. 22
8. Rondo brillant, for piano & orchestra in E flat major, Op. 29

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CD Details

All Artists: Felix [1] Mendelssohn, Samuel Friedmann, Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, Andrei Pisarev
Title: Mendelssohn: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Arte Nova Classics
Original Release Date: 1/1/2007
Re-Release Date: 5/8/2007
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Concertos, Instruments, Keyboard, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 723721287856

Synopsis

Album Description

Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847), creator of the lyric piano piece, wrote his popular Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor when he was twenty-two years old and played the solo part himself in public. In this early work Mendelssohn nurtured a compositional principle of free approach to form--a novelty that he also used to good end in the Concerto No. 2 in D minor and the later Violin Concerto. Andrei Pisarev, winner of the 1983 Rachmaninov Competition in Moscow, is one of the leading pianists of Russia's younger generation. In 1991 he won several piano awards, including First Prize at the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg, demonstrating not only outstanding technical ability but also profound musicality.

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CD Reviews

Definitive performance

Laurentiu Cristofor | 06/09/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arte Nova has produced some amazing recordings for their budget pricing. This is one of their top releases. Pisarev's playing is mercurial and this recording benefits from top notch sound engineering. After listening to this CD I have not seeked another performance of these concertos. Highly recommended.

"

The Mendelssohn Piano Concerto Set to Get!

goodmusicman | USA | 06/25/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This rerelease of recordings of Mendelssohn's works for piano and orchestra with an all Russian ensemble are now the ultimate choice for those who love this music. Too many recordings fail to bring out the Romanticism and drama of these works, playing them like Mozartian Classical works instead. Mendelssohn stood at a crossroads (second third of nineteenth century) and he is considered one of the first Romantics (along with Schumann and Chopin). His music should be played that way, making him a bridge to the more overt Romanticism of Brahms.

Pianist Andrei Pisarev is a world-class talent and he brings out the fire as well as the lyricism of these works as few others have. Conductor Samuel Friedmann chooses just the right tempos and the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra (noted for their recordings of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich for Naxos) play with passionate commitment to the music. Even classic accounts like Serkin, Perahia, and Thibadeut fail to bring out these qualities. The Second Concerto in particular stands out for its darkness, drama, and excitement in Pisarev's hands. This work is sometimes played speedily, giving it a lightness and superficiality which are unsuitable to the work. Pisarev can play with great speed when the time is right, but he can also slow down to allow the music to breathe when necessary. This is the most compelling account of the Second Concerto I've ever heard and the First Concerto and the two shorter works for piano and orchestra are also given outstanding performances here. The sound quality throughout is crystal clear and nearly perfect.

For those who have been waiting for satisfying performances of Mendelssohn's piano/orchestra works, the wait is over. This CD is the one you'll want to own. With the super-budget price, they're practically giving it away! Don't hesitate!"