Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 & Works for Solo Piano

Featuring

Simon Over
Alessio Bax
Southbank Sinfonia
Ludwig van Beethoven

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Performer Biography

Alessio Bax graduated with top honors from the conservatory of Bari, his Italian hometown, at just 14 years old.

Composer Biography

During the 1809 bombardment of Vienna, Beethoven reportedly cowered in his brother's basement, holding a pillow to his ears to protect his remaining hearing.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's 'Emperor' Concerto, the last of his piano concertos, begins with an unorthodox piano cadenza, typically reserved for the end of a movement, in dialogue with orchestral tuttis.

Performer Biography

Alessio Bax, the pianist on this recording, won First Prize at both the Leeds and Hamamatsu International Piano Competitions.

Composition History

The nickname 'Emperor' for Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 was not given by Beethoven himself, but by a publisher after its completion.

Historical Context

Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5, the 'Emperor' Concerto, was composed during a turbulent period when Vienna was under heavy bombardment by Napoleon's forces in 1809.

Performer Biography

Southbank Sinfonia, the orchestra on this recording, is an orchestral academy that provides a springboard into the profession for 33 promising graduate musicians each year.