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Barenboim’s Concerto

Posted: Thursday | 09.01.11

Daniel Barenboim plays the Chopin Piano Concertos

Live Recording from The Philharmonie in Essen, Germany, 2010

Chopin:

Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21

Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Staatskapelle Berlin; Andris Nelsons, conductor

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11

Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Staatskapelle Berlin; Andris Nelsons, conductor

Waltz No. 3 in A minor ‘Grande Valse Brillante’, Op. 34 No. 2

Daniel Barenboim (piano)

Haydn:

Symphony No. 44 in E minor ‘Mourning’

Staatskapelle Berlin; Andris Nelsons, conductor

CD Release date: 30th Aug. 2011

For the 200th anniversary of the birth of Frédéric Chopin, the Ruhr Piano Festival in Essen, Germany, invited the Staatskapelle Berlin to give a special concert: A performance of Chopin‘s two piano concertos in one concert. For this purpose Daniel Barenboim, the orchestra‘s principal conductor, handed the reins of this ensemble to conductor Andris Nelsons, and Mr. Barenboim assumed the role of piano soloist instead.

Frederic Chopin wrote the two piano concertos when he was only 19 and 20; they were among the last works that he composed in Poland before leaving for France. Filled with youthful fire and freshness, the works showcase the pianist‘s virtuosity, and contain much of interest for the orchestral musicians as well, including poignant solo interludes for clarinet and bassoon.

The press commented as follows:

“Storms of applause for a dream couple: Daniel Barenboim and Andris Nelsons won over the audience … with their rousing Chopin interpretations“.

Here are some extracts from this DVD:

And here you have Frédéric Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor with Daniel Barenboim, piano, and Asher Fisch, conducting the Berliner Philharmoniker, recorded at the Berlin Philharmonie, 4 October 2009: