Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5, Op. 73 "Emperor" & Quintet for Piano and Winds, Op. 16

Featuring

Elisabeth Leonskaja
Michael Schønwandt
Cécile Colinet
Sacha Hannecart-Ségal
Arsène Brucker
Camille Vauchez

Orchestre Français des Jeunes
Ludwig van Beethoven

Did you know?

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Performer Biography

The Orchestre Français des Jeunes (OFJ) is an orchestra composed of musicians between the ages of 16 and 25, who are selected annually through auditions across France.

Album & Artwork

The album pairs Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 with his Quintet for Piano & Winds, both in the same key, to present two different sides of the composer's personality: the young Beethoven and the mature Beethoven.

Interpretation

Pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja and conductor Michael Schønwandt, who have a friendship spanning over 15 years, aimed to foster a sense of concentration, intent listening, and openness among the young musicians during the recording sessions.

Recording & Production

This album was recorded during the Orchestre Français des Jeunes's annual residency at the Royal Saltworks at Arc-et-Senans in eastern France in August 2024, and in Dijon and Paris in December 2024 and January 2025.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Conductor Michael Schønwandt believes that Beethoven's 'Emperor' Concerto is the benchmark for the relationship between pianist and orchestra, where the interconnectedness of soloist, conductor, and orchestra reaches its peak.