Beethoven 5, Vol. 4

Description

Virtuoso without blinders or borders, Jonathan Bliss plays Beethoven and Sciarrino! Jonathan Bliss shares his impressions on Beethoven's fourth concerto: each of Beethoven's piano concertos is a captivating and moving world in its own way and for its own reasons. For me, Concerto No. 4 is unique. Its opening phrase, introspective and played solely by the piano, immediately establishes that this is an unprecedented and unparalleled work. It is full of contradictions - both poetic and grandiose - and leaves an indelible impression on the listener. The pairing makes for the strangest and most surreal of Beethoven/5 projects: Il Sogno di Stradella by Salvatore Sciarrino. Described by the composer as a concerto "not only of sounds but of resonances, near and far," the work oscillates between the composer's spectral language and one that evokes the 19th century. As usual, Jonathan Bliss holds nothing back, maintaining a fascinating precision and poetry, with the Swedish Symphony Orchestra.