Clementi converted a concerto into the more marketable Sonata Op 33 No 3 in C major, as symphonies and concertos were rarely published in 18th-century England.
Composer Biography
Clementi engaged in a famous "piano contest" with Mozart in Vienna, staged by Emperor Joseph II for his guests.
Historical Context
Clementi's attempted elopement with a piano student in Lyon ended unhappily, illustrating the low status of musicians in late 18th-century European society.
Critical Reception
A 1790 review in the Morning Chronicle praised Clementi's piano concerto for its "brilliancy of finger, and wonderful execution," stating the instrument's powers were never called forth with superior skill.
Performer Biography
Howard Shelley, the pianist on this recording, has had a distinguished career since his 1971 London debut and is known for his work as both conductor and soloist.
Composer Biography
Muzio Clementi, born into a modest family in Rome, was taken to England at age fourteen by Sir Peter Beckford, who had "bought him from his father for seven years."
Composition History
The Sonata Op 41 in E flat major had a "convoluted history" as a leading publisher released it without Clementi's permission, prompting him to arrange for a revised, authorized edition.
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