Beethoven's Overture to King Stephen, Op. 117, was composed in 1811 for the inauguration of a grand theatre in Pest, Hungary, at the request of Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria.
Recording & Production
During the filmed dress rehearsal, the concertmaster tested positive for COVID-19, leading to a last-minute replacement by Svetlin Roussev, who was then concertmaster of the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande.
Performer Biography
Mikhail Pletnev, the pianist on this album, founded the Russian National Orchestra in 1990 with Mikhail Gorbachev's consent, making it Russia's first non-governmental, privately financed orchestra.
Performer Biography
Mikhail Pletnev's piano arrangements of Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty are so renowned that they have become technical exams for pianists worldwide to demonstrate mastery of the instrument.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded live during the COVID-19 pandemic, in front of empty chairs and cameras, as concerts without an audience were legally considered rehearsals.
Composition History
The choice of King Stephen I of Hungary as the subject for Beethoven's overture was intended to appease nascent nationalist sentiments among Hungarians.
Performer Biography
Gábor Takács-Nagy, the conductor, was the founding member and leader of the acclaimed Takács Quartet from 1975 to 1992, performing globally with many legendary artists.
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