Pietro Massa, the pianist on this recording, has performed 31 piano concertos with orchestra and regularly gives solo recitals in major German cities.
Critical Reception
Brahms's Piano Concerto No. 2 was described by critic Eduard Hanslick as a "great symphony with an obbligato piano" due to its four movements and the piano's integrated role as "first among equals."
Composition History
The program for this album, featuring Brahms's Tragic Overture and Piano Concerto No. 2, is based on a concert organized by conductor Hans von Bülow in 1881.
Recording & Production
This album is a live recording of a concert that took place on February 5, 2022, in the Great Hall of the Laeiszhalle in Hamburg.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Brahms composed the Tragic Overture to reflect a 'melancholic mood,' avoiding a specific literary program and instead seeking the dark character of a tragic event through a solitary symphony movement.
Performer Biography
Christian Kunert, the conductor, began his musical career as a bassoonist, winning several international competitions, and will become chief conductor of two Chinese symphony orchestras starting in 2022 and 2023.
Compositional Technique
The Tragic Overture's instrumentation, including three trombones and a tuba, emphasizes the work's desired 'dark' tonal character.
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