Chopin: Complete Piano Concertos

Featuring

Christian Zacharias
Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne
Frédéric Chopin

Did you know?

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Interpretation

For this recording, Christian Zacharias, who typically conducts from the piano with the lid removed, agreed to play with the lid on to capture the full complexity of the piano's sound.

Recording & Production

This album is part of the MDG Preziosa series, which re-releases important recordings from the label's early days, some of which were originally only available on vinyl.

Recording & Production

The recording venue, Salle Métropole in Lausanne, is a preserved, soundproof cinema and theatre from the 1930s, located in Switzerland's first high-rise complex.

Performer Biography

Christian Zacharias, the pianist and conductor on this album, began his conducting career in 1992 and became artistic director and principal conductor of the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne in September 2000.

Recording & Production

To achieve a natural sound, all chairs in the stalls were stacked to reveal the parquet floor, and curtains were kept drawn to prevent disruptive flutter echoes.

Recording & Production

During recording, the production team had to remove a brick from the wall and add hooks to channel cables to the stage, working in a windowless, un-airconditioned cellar room.

Recording & Production

The original 2003 8-track master tape for this recording was difficult to play back due to aging equipment, requiring a combination of new and old components to transfer the data.