Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2

Featuring

Grzegorz Nowak
Mario Galeani
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Ludwig van Beethoven

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Composer Biography

At age 17, Beethoven met Mozart, who, despite Beethoven's unkempt appearance and awkwardness, recognized his talent, stating, 'watch this lad. Some day, he will force the world to talk of him!'

Compositional Technique

In his First Piano Concerto, Beethoven dedicates the opening militaristic theme not to trumpets, as was customary, but to strings playing very quietly.

Composer Biography

Beethoven's early piano lessons were abusive, with his alcoholic father regularly dragging him from bed for impromptu tutorials.

Compositional Technique

Beethoven's Second Piano Concerto features a revolutionary central movement that uses sonata form expansively, yet telescopes the central 'development' section into just six bars.

Performer Biography

Mario Galeani, the pianist on this recording, is considered one of the most important and active Italian pianists of his generation, having studied with Aldo Ciccolini.

Composition History

The Piano Concerto No. 1, though published first, was composed shortly after the work known as Piano Concerto No. 2, leading to its 'somewhat erroneous' numbering.

Performer Biography

Grzegorz Nowak, the conductor, is the Principal Associate Conductor of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and won First Prize at the Ernest Ansermet Conducting Competition in Geneva.