Bruch/Mendelssohn Piano Concertos
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Max Bruch, Felix Mendelssohn
Label: Philips
Magazine Review Date: 7/1993
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 61
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 432 095-2PH
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra |
Max Bruch, Composer
Katia Labèque, Piano Marielle Labèque, Piano Max Bruch, Composer Philharmonia Orchestra Semyon Bychkov, Conductor |
Composer or Director: Max Bruch, Felix Mendelssohn
Label: Philips
Magazine Review Date: 7/1993
Media Format: Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 432 095-4PH
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra |
Max Bruch, Composer
Katia Labèque, Piano Marielle Labèque, Piano Max Bruch, Composer Philharmonia Orchestra Semyon Bychkov, Conductor |
Composer or Director: Max Bruch, Felix Mendelssohn
Label: Philips
Magazine Review Date: 7/1993
Media Format: Digitial Cassette
Media Runtime: 0
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 432 095-5PH
Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
Concerto for Two Pianos and Orchestra |
Max Bruch, Composer
Katia Labèque, Piano Marielle Labèque, Piano Max Bruch, Composer Philharmonia Orchestra Semyon Bychkov, Conductor |
Author:
In 1989, Claire and Antoinette Cann gave the work its British premiere, and this is its second recording (the first was by Berkofsky and Hagan with the Berlin SO under Herbig––Vox Turnabout (CD) 0012). The Labeques indulge both its burgeoning romanticism and its considerable virtuoso demands, while Bychkov directs a big, warm-textured accompaniment. The recording was made three years ago in London's Henry Wood Hall and sounds rather cramped––a fault due in part at least to Bruch's thickset orchestration.
Mendelssohn's E major Double Piano Concerto (another work that had to wait years for publication) is one of a pair that he composed during his early teens. It's far more transparent than the Bruch and presumably posed Philips's engineers fewer problems. Here Beethoven was an obvious model (his Emperor Concerto in particular), but the music is quintessentially Mendelssohnian none the less, with an abundance of sunny melodies and much dexterous solo writing. Although a lighter touch might have raised more of a smile, the Labeques never stint on brilliance and the Philharmonia is on good form. The recording copes fairly well and, taken as a whole, this CD provides an engaging introduction to some attractive but little-known repertory.'
Explore the world’s largest classical music catalogue on Apple Music Classical.
Included with an Apple Music subscription. Download now.
Gramophone Digital Club
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Events & Offers
From £9.20 / month
SubscribeGramophone Club
- Print Edition
- Digital Edition
- Digital Archive
- Reviews Database
- Events & Offers
From £11.45 / month
Subscribe
If you are a library, university or other organisation that would be interested in an institutional subscription to Gramophone please click here for further information.