The young, articulate and passionate American pianist, Jonathan Biss, an exclusive artist for EMI Classics, returns with his much anticipated fourth album for the label featuring Mozart’s Piano Concerti Nos. 21 and 22.
Jonathan is joined by the Grammy®-Award winning Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, internationally renowned for its fine artistry and distinctive approach to music-making.
It is commonly said that if one wished to learn everything there is to know about Mozart, but could only study a single type of composition, the best choice would be the piano concerto. In this one area, Mozart produced twenty-seven pieces, more piano concerti than any other composer.
His 21st and 22nd appeared in the latter part of his career and were composed in the same year. Mozart’s Piano Concerto No.21 in C is one of the great and most well-known of his 27 piano concerti. It is also considered among the most technically demanding of all Mozart's concerti. Indeed, Leopold Mozart once described it as "astonishingly difficult".
Mozart was a gifted improviser and it is said that he preferred not to write out the solo cadenzas, deciding instead to improvise them on the spot. Though most of Mozart’s cadenzas have survived, Nos. 20 and No 21, have not. Jonathan has decided to play all his own cadenzas except for the last movement of K467, where he plays Dinu Lipatti's.
Jonathan was introduced on the Debut label at EMI but swiftly moved onto the main label, acknowledging that he is an exceptional and highly accomplished musician. At only 27, he has already established a flourishing international career, both in recital and orchestral performances.
He remains the only American to date to have been chosen to participate in the BBC’s New Generation Artists’ scheme.
“These are altogether exceptionally fine accounts, with well-judged tempos… allied with playing that is unfailingly but subtly expressive.” BBC Music Magazine, October 2008 *****
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