Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Loewe: Piano Concerto No. 2 Mari Kodama

• Fryderyk Chopin (1810 - 1849): Piano Concerto No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21:
• 1 Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21: I. Maestoso 14:04
• 2 Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21: II. Larghetto 09:08
• 3 Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 in F Minor, Op. 21: III. Allegro vivace 08:34
• Carl Loewe (1796 - 1869): Piano Concerto No. 2 in A major:
• 4 Loewe: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major: I. Allegro maestoso 09:52
• 5 Loewe: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major: II. (Andante grazioso) Espaniola 07:43
• 6 Loewe: Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major: III. Rondo (Vivace) 10:23
• Total Runtime 59:44

Info for Chopin: Piano Concerto No. 2 / Loewe: Piano Concerto No. 2

The programme of this album at hand may appear odd at first, perhaps even a little wilful? however, it is at least exciting and conspicuous, as it heralds the meeting of Frederic Chopin‘s Piano Concerto in F minor with Carl Loewe‘s Piano Concerto in A, two heavyweight virtuoso concertos ? one of them stemming from the quill of the 'Paganini of the Piano', the other from that of the 'King of the Vocal Ballad'. So what can be expected? More than an hour of highly polished pianistic jewels displayed upon a luxurious silken orchestral carpet.

Nothing more, but also nothing less: for an in-depth discussion about the status and value of the works in the piano-concerto genre does not arise, as neither work is based on the Classical symphonic concerto (with its ingenious dialogue structures between the soloist and orchestra as equal partners) which had already been elaborated upon and perfected by Mozart and Beethoven. These compositions are much more representatives of the 'Virtuoso Concerto' genre, where nothing must distract the listener from the playing of the soloist. Here, the duty of the orchestra is simply to increase the excitement of the public with regard to the longed-for entrance of the soloist by first presenting an extensive orchestral exposition, and then providing melodic and harmonic support in the further course of the brilliant solo part.

Mari Kodama who numbers Brendel and Tatiana Nikolaeva among her teachers, is an impressive soloist happy to note-spin with all the required ease and facility in the Loewe and to provide a good deal more in the Chopin.” (Bryce Morrison, Gramophone)

The musical world is not exactly screaming for another recording of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2, even though this one is perfectly fine. Kent Nagano conducts a refreshingly un-lumpy first movement, while Mari Kodama plays sensitively throughout, particularly in the central Larghetto, which is quite lovely. Certainly the music poses no technical problems for the pianist, even though you can't help but observe that she's no Rubinstein, Argerich, or Zimerman. But that's really not the point, because the real treat here is Carl Loewe's charming A major concerto (also his second), a lovely essay in early German Romanticism by a master melodist and fine musical craftsman. (David Hurwitz)

Mari Kodama, Piano
Russian National Orchestra
Kent Nagano, Conductor

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