Elizabeth Leonskaja - Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 “Emperor” / Quintet For Piano And Winds Op. 16 - Import CD

Credits:

Elizabeth Leonskaja

A thoughtful and fresh interpretation of Beethoven, with piano playing that draws on Leonskaya's years of experience and an orchestra of young players! Elisabet Leonskaya, long recognized as one of the best pianists of her generation, shares her extensive experience performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" with members of the Orchestre Francais des Jeunes (French National Youth Orchestra), a group of young players aged between 16 and 25, The purest expression of the work and the joy of performing it. The orchestra will be conducted by Danish-born Michael Schoenwand, who served as the orchestra's music director from 2021 to 2024. It is very important for us to carry on the great works of our repertoire," said Schoenwandt. I want the performers to pass on the knowledge, love, demands, and depth of each piece as their own," said Schoenewand. And it is important that we pass this responsibility on to the younger generation. Leonskaya agrees, saying, "We feel a great responsibility. The concert review of this performance said, "A magnificent performance... It was a great pleasure to hear Beethoven played by a master of the so-called 'old school,' and one could only marvel at the quality of her interpretation and the purity of her sound. The speed with which the keys rushed about, the magnificent bursts of chords, the luscious trills, and the skill with which she shaped the melody with infinite delicacy... Leonskaya captured every nuance of Beethoven's brilliant score with aplomb. The second movement of the "Adagio" was... just perfect. This concerto is performed frequently, but in this performance it was as if it had been discovered anew. It was full of thoughtful expression and fresh interpretations that could sometimes be described as provocative. Leonskaya infused the piece with a mysterious atmosphere. Indeed, there was a powerful majesty in the huge chords at the beginning, a haunting lyricism in the second movement "Adagio," and a bouncy joy in the finale. But what was most impressive were the numerous moments of surprise that Leonskaya set in motion throughout,'' wrote a highly appreciative reviewer. The album also includes Beethoven's early work "Quintet for Piano and Winds" written in E-flat major, the same key as Piano Concerto No. 5, which he performed with the orchestra's principal wind players. It is said that Beethoven was strongly influenced by Mozart's work (K.452) with the same orchestration, and the tension, more dynamic and undulating development of the piece is not found in Mozart's work. The piano plays more of a leading role than an accompaniment, and the piece is imbued with concerto-like elements, and the balance between the piano and instrumental music has been devised against the backdrop of the development of the piano at that time. The character of each wind instrument is well utilized, and the new sensibility of these young wind members and the romanticism and elegance of Leonskaya make for a superb performance that offers a taste of the wonders of the ensemble. Warner Music Japan