The fortepianos used in this recording are a Robert A. Brown instrument from 1988, modeled after an Anton Walter piano from around 1790, and a J.C. Neupert instrument from around 1980, modeled after a J.J. Könnicke piano from around 1790.
Composer Biography
Ignaz Joseph Pleyel, born in 1757, had a career that unfolded in three phases: composing, publishing, and making pianos.
Interpretation
The cadenzas in the 'Concerto' on this album were improvised during the recording session, with the final versions chosen during the editing process.
Cultural Impact
Pleyel was one of the most popular composers of his time, with his works published by about 250 different firms in at least 2,000 editions.
Composer Biography
Pleyel was musically trained by Joseph Haydn and was born a year after Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, naturally leading him to the Viennese Classical style.
Cultural Impact
Pleyel established a piano-making firm in 1807, and the 'Salle Pleyel' concert venue in Paris, opened in 1830, became a central hub for artists like Chopin, Debussy, and Stravinsky for a century.
Compositional Technique
Pleyel's contemporaries did not distinguish between authentic composition and arrangement; instead, the technical skill of arranging and writing competently was highly valued, which Pleyel possessed.
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