Out of these two concertos, the Tchaikovsky gets sonic and interpretive first prize. Its famous opening alone encapsulates everything that’s good here: a razor-sharp orchestra with brass and winds proudly up front, a wide yet never outsized dynamic …
“Her selection is sufficiently individual to make comparison a marginal issue, and so too is her playing, which once more displays a distinctive personal eloquence...For Clara Schumann the Fantasie was beyond wonder. Such unbridled joy is reflected …
The demand for piano duet arrangements of concert music during Schumann’s lifetime was very considerable. An inveterate piano duettist himself, Schumann supervised the String Quartet arrangements made by the talented young composer Otto Dressel, who…
Piano arrangements were the main way for people to become acquainted with concert repertoire in Schumann’s day, and publishers ensured that the huge demand for such versions was met. Otto Dresel’s arrangement of the String Quartet, Op. 41, No. 3 was…
“Mertanen's bravura is commanding, as, more importantly, are his tenderness and spontaneous poetic response...The Gavle Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Koivula also play gloriously...Everything is given with a living and breathing romantic…
One of the most charismatic and best-loved violinists of modern times, Germany's Anne-Sophie Mutter began her studies on the piano at the age of five. She shortly added violin lessons with Erna Hornigberger. In 1970 and again in 1974, she won fi…
"The box set Great Piano Concertos has been produced to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Naxos and draws on their extensive catalogue of concerto recordings. The recording quality varies from the older 1980’s recordings but there are some good…