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Cover: Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 · Violin Concerto (version for piano)

Ludwig van Beethoven

Piano Concerto No. 3

Violin Concerto (version for piano)

Tapiola Sinfonietta
Olli Mustonen, piano and conductor

ODE 1123-5 · CD / SACD · May 2008

Buy / listen

"a thrilling listen" - The Times (U.K.)

Track listing

6 tracks · 74:16

Listen to samples on selected tracks.

Ludwig van Beethoven

  1. Concerto for piano and orchestra No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 34:52
  2. 1 I. Allegro con brio 17:16
  3. 2 II. Largo 8:45
  4. 3 III. Rondo. Allegro 8:50
  5. Concerto for piano and orchestra in D major, Op. 61a (arranged by the composer from the Violin Concerto) 39:26
  6. 4 I. Allegro ma non troppo 22:05
  7. 5 II. Larghetto 7:59
  8. 6 III. Rondo. Allegro 9:21

About this recording

Olli Mustonen continues his acclaimed cycle of Beethoven Piano Concertos. In this second volume, the visionary Finnish pianist and conductor turns his talent to the Third Piano Concerto in C minor and the Piano Concerto which Beethoven arranged himself from Violin Concerto of 1806. While this Piano Concerto is seldom played in concert, with only a handful of recordings available, Mustonen regularly puts it on his programmes, and it has become one of his signature pieces.

As on the previous disc, Mustonen performs with the Tapiola Sinfonietta, with whom he has maintained close artistic ties for years, accompanying this Beethoven project with acclaimed tour performances in various European countries.

The booklet includes extensive liner notes written by noted Beethoven scholar and author of the new complete Piano Concerto Edition, Dr. Hans-Werner Küthen of the Beethoven-Archiv, Bonn.

Features

Hybrid SACD (recorded in DXD; SACD Surround 5.0 / SACD Stereo / CD Stereo - playable on all SACD and CD players); booklet with liner notes in English, German, French, and Finnish

Press

Mustonens Anschlagskunst grenzt an Magie. (...) Mustonen artikuliert durchwegs mit äußerstem Differenzierungsvermögen: Es tun sich unerhörte Non-Legato-Welten auf. Auch das Pedal weiß er effektsicher, malerisch einzusetzen. Diese Musiker gehen mit solcher Frische des Geistes und Herzens zu Werke, dass allfällige ‚stil-kritische’ Bedenken philiströs, ja albern erscheinen. (...) Dass Hans-Werner Küthen vom Beethoven-Archiv Bonn als Autor des (ungemein aufschlussreichen) Beiheft-Texts gewonnen werden konnte, spricht für die hochseriöse Machart dieser Produktion.
Daniel Krause, Klassik.com, 16. Februar 2009

On this excellent recording, (Olli Mustonen) combines at least two of his talents, conducting from the keyboard a fresh rendition of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 3.
Robin Gehl, NPR, December 22, 2008, Best CDs of 2008 / The New Faces of Classical Music

The Tapiola Sinfonietta in particular is on terrific form and Mustonen's playing occasionally has the grandeur of an aristocrat. Theirs is an interpretation that avoids the routine (...). These incident-packed, often arresting performances enjoy excellent reproduction - Mustonen is naturally balanced with the orchestra, his soloist-and-director role here apppositely underlined.
Colin Anderson, International Piano Magazine, September/October 2008

Mustonen's performance of the Third Concerto (...) is one of the finest on disc: big-hearted and free from the Haydnesque prissiness that some interpreters bring to the work. The Tapiola Sinfonietta's playing is sensational, too.
Tim Ashley, The Guardian, August 8, 2008

Here is playing of great force, brilliance and exactness.
Anthony Hodgson, ClassicalSource.com, August 2008

It's musical, full of life, and certainly makes you consider the (Violin Concerto) in a new light.
Mark Forrest, Classic FM, July 14, 2008, Classical CD of the Week

(...) fascinating, limpid account of the piano version Beethoven made, at Clementi's request, of his own violin concerto.
Paul Driver, The Sunday Times, July 13, 2008

Listening to Olli Mustonen's interpretation of Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto is a refreshing experience; instead of emphasizing the tragic melodrama, Mustonen brings out the music's intimite character.
Veijo Murtomäki, Helsingin Sanomat, July 7, 2008

It is a thrilling listen.
Rick Jones, The Times, July 5, 2008

Empahtically phrased, with piquant sforzandi from the strings, a warm woodwind sound and brilliantly clear textures from the piano, it is a testament to the vitality of interpretations that do away with the middle man.
Anna Picard, The Independent, June 15, 2008

The artists

Tapiola Sinfonietta

The Tapiola Sinfonietta has established itself as Finland’s premier chamber orchestra. Founded as the Espoo City Orchestra in 1987, it currently has 44 members. The orchestra is known for its adventurous repertoire planning and has been widely acclaimed for nuanced performances across a wide range of eras and styles.

Full biography

Olli Mustonen

Olli Mustonen has a unique place on today's music scene both as a pianist, conductor and composer. As a pianist, he has challenged and fascinated audiences throughout Europe and America with his brilliant technique and startling originality. At the heart of his piano playing Mustonen has a deeply held conviction that each performance must have the freshness of a first performance and this tenacious spirit of discovery leads him to explore many areas of repertoire beyond the established canon.

Full biography

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