Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Haochen Zhang
Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
Conductor: Nathalie Stutzmann
Number of Discs: 3
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Catalogue: BIS2581
Release: 2022
Size: 2.76 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
CD 01
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Largo
03. III. Rondo
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-Flat Major, Op. 19
04. I. Allegro con brio
05. II. Adagio
06. III. Rondo
CD 02
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
01. I. Allegro con brio
02. II. Largo
03. III. Rondo
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
04. I. Allegro moderato
05. II. Andante con moto
06. III. Rondo
CD 03
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Adagio un poco mosso
03. III. Rondo
As one of the finest pianists of his era and an improviser of genius, Ludwig van Beethoven’s preferred vehicle for musical exploration was the piano. With his five piano concertos composed between 1788 and 1809, he not only achieved a brilliant conclusion to the Classical piano concerto, but also established a new model for the Romantic era: a sort of symphony with obbligato piano which was to remain a reference point well into the twentieth century.
After the first two concertos, which still closely follow the models of Haydn and Mozart, Concerto No. 3 marks a profound stylistic change. In the piano part, Beethoven pushes the instrument to its limits, leading commentators to remark that he was writing for the piano of the future. This trend continued and reached its fullness in the Fourth and Fifth Concertos, which today rank among the great composer’s most admired works.
In 2009, Haochen Zhang was the youngest pianist ever to receive the Gold Medal at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Since then he has captivated audiences worldwide with a unique combination of deep musical sensitivity, fearless imagination and spectacular virtuosity. He now performs the five Beethoven concertos supported by the prestigious Philadelphia Orchestra under its principal guest conductor, the charismatic Nathalie Stutzmann.