Ronald Brautigam has recorded more than 60 albums for BIS, including the complete solo keyboard music by Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven on the fortepiano. But his first releases on the label, in the mid-1990s, were Mendelssohn's concertante works for piano and orchestra, on modern piano. When he now returns to these scores, it is on a copy of a Pleyel grand piano from 1830 - the year before Mendelssohn composed his Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor. And the orchestra supporting him is the period band Die KÃ¶lner Akademie under Michael Alexander Willens, the same team that he has already collaborated with for an acclaimed 11-album survey of Mozart's keyboard concertos. The historically informed accompaniments and the clarity of the solo instrument contribute to performances of a great charm and freshness, shedding a new light on these works. Composed between 1831 and 1838, they were all written primarily for Mendelssohn's own use as a touring concert pianist, but soon entered the repertoire of many other pianists - especially the G minor concerto, which was extremely popular in the composer's own time.

Tracklist:

Rondo Brillant In E-Flat Major, Op. 29, Mwv O 10
Piano Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25, Mwv O 7: I. Molto Allegro Con Fuoco
Piano Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25, Mwv O 7: II. Andante
Piano Concerto No. 1 In G Minor, Op. 25, Mwv O 7: III. Presto - Molto Allegro Vivace
Capriccio Brillant In B Minor, Op. 22, Mwv O 8
Piano Concerto No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 40, Mwv O 11: I. Allegro Appassionato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 40, Mwv O 11: II. Adagio. Molto Sostenuto
Piano Concerto No. 2 In D Minor, Op. 40, Mwv O 11: III. Finale. Presto Scherzando
Serenade Und Allegro Giojoso, Op. 43, Mwv O 12: I. Andante
Serenade Und Allegro Giojoso, Op. 43, Mwv O 12: II. Allegro Giojoso

UPC: 7318599922645
Label: Bis
Release Date: 1.4.19
Format: CD

Bartholdy / Brautigam / Die Kolner Akademie - Piano Concertos (CD)