Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21, was actually composed before the Piano Concerto No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11.
Performer Biography
Sa Chen, the pianist on this recording, is the only pianist in history to have been awarded in all three top piano competitions: the Van Cliburn, Leeds, and International Chopin Piano Competitions.
Composition History
At the 1830 premiere of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 in Warsaw, an overture by Josef Elsner and a hunting-horn divertimento were inserted after the first movement, a common practice at the time.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Chopin's two piano concertos are pure examples of the 'virtuoso concerto' category, where the soloist's performance is paramount and the orchestra provides harmonic support.
Recording & Production
Polyhymnia International, the recording facility for this album, builds or substantially modifies most of its recording equipment in-house, including microphone preamplifiers and internal microphone electronics.
Performer Biography
Lawrence Foster, the conductor, was decorated by the Romanian President in 2003 for his services to Romanian music, particularly for championing the music of Georg Enescu.
Composer Biography
Chopin, the composer, expressed his love for a singer in the Larghetto movement of his Piano Concerto No. 2, stating, 'For the past six months, I have dreamed of her every night.'
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Chopin: Piano Concertos Nos. 1 & 2 (Arr. B. Kominek)
