Mendelssohn: Piano Concerti Nos. 1 & 2; Capriccio Brillant; Rondo Brillant [Import]

Felix [1] Mendelssohn (Composer), Lawrence Foster (Conductor), City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), Stephen Hough (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Stephen Hough
• Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Lawrence Foster
• Composer: Felix [1] Mendelssohn
• Audio CD (August 12, 1997)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Hyperion UK
• ASIN: B000002ZZU
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,788 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Capriccio Brillant In B Minor, Op. 22

2. Piano Concerto No 1 In G Minor Op. 25: I. Molto Allegro con fuoco

3. Piano Concerto No 1 In G Minor Op. 25: II. Andante

4. Piano Concerto No 1 In G Minor Op. 25: III. Presto -- Molto Allegro e vivace

5. Rondo Brillant In E Flat Major Op. 29

6. Piano Concerto No 2 In D Minor Op. 40: I. Allegro appassionato

7. Piano Concerto No 2 In D Minor Op. 40: II. Adagio: Molto sostenuto

8. Piano Concerto No 2 In D Minor Op. 40: Finale: Presto scherzando

9. Serenade And Allegro Giocoso In B Minor Op 43

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Super Performances and an Excellent Value, November 2, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Mendelssohn: Piano Concerti Nos. 1 & 2; Capriccio Brillant; Rondo Brillant (Audio CD)

The excellent value comes as a result of getting all, I believe, of Mendelssohn's concerted music with piano (except for the early Violin and Piano Concerto) on one disc. That produces a CD of quite generous duration (75 minutes). But more importantly, the performances of all these works are some of the finest I've heard and are captured in sound that is both airy and crystalline.

Stephen Hough is a specialist in the early-Romantic repetoire, and he does not disappoint in Mendelssohn's busy, bustling concerted pieces. Some have called Mendelssohn a note spinner at the piano, but these works are brim-full of memorable melodies and often exciting virtuoso passages, such as the cascading passagework in the First Concerto's last movement. Though the composer eschews the big-chord sound of later Romantics, his long-breathed runs and pianistic filigree bring their own formidable challenges, to which Hough is always equal. And if you don't know the less-familiar works on this disc, the Rondo Brilliant and Serenade, I can't think of a better way to get to know these delightful works, in which Mendelssohn is at his most "giocoso."

Lawrence Foster leads the City of Birmingham Symphony in accompaniments that match Hough in brilliance and panache. All in all, this disc is a fine entertainment.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love paradoxes, June 30, 2003

By 

Ryan Richards "reb77" (Midland, MI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mendelssohn: Piano Concerti Nos. 1 & 2; Capriccio Brillant; Rondo Brillant (Audio CD)

The other reviewer of this CD said it all, so I'll just add that this CD is Mendelssohn the way it's supposed to sound. Stephen Hough is, in my opinion, as virtuoso a pianist as ever there was, and his genius lies in his inexplicable combination of raw power and precise, clear technique. Basically, you can hear every note he plays, yet they're all strong, confident notes. In addition, Hough definitely understands the felicitous nature of Mendelssohn's music; everything comes out sounding playful as well as powerful. I don't understand how Hough can do that either, but I'm sure not complaining; the result is some of the most irresistably compelling piano music I've heard. The City of Birmingham SO backs him up with their usual skill; they don't wimp out and try to hide behind the soloist, but come in with guns blazing, enjoying every minute of each piece--yet somehow, they always manage to keep the soloist at the forefront of the action. So there are all these paradoxes in the performances of these pieces, but they're all *good* paradoxes. If you haven't heard these pieces before, you can't go wrong with this CD. In fact, if you haven't heard Mendelssohn before, this CD will give you an excellent idea of what he's all about. Worth every penny.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Pearls scattered upon velvet", July 10, 2006

By 

Steven Eldredge (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Mendelssohn: Piano Concerti Nos. 1 & 2; Capriccio Brillant; Rondo Brillant (Audio CD)

"Pearls scattered upon velvet" was how a writer once described a particular nineteenth century pianist's sound. ( I can't remember right now who it was, it might have been Thalberg, Mendelssohn's contemporary) This phrase came to my mind over and over as I listened to Stephen Hough's piano tone in these terrific recordings of Felix Mendelssohn's five works for piano and orchestra. I have heard high-powered performances, particularly of the First Concerto in G minor ( the piece that Berlioz claimed, in a wonderful moment of poetic conceit, all the pianos at the Paris Conservatoire played by themselves each night after the students had gone home!) which overwhelmed the delicate, refined style of Mendelssohn's music.Often the left hand repeated chords in the Finale are hammered out in the ugliest way. Stephen Hough finds a virtuosity which is at once elegant, gossamer when needed, and propulsive without ever being percussive. Tempi go along with that manner of playing, and are generally swift and airy. To go from the world of Hummel's Concerto in A minor or B minor to the concerti of Mendelssohn is really only a jaunt next door through the garden gate. I think Mr Hough's playing of concerti and sonatas by Hummel really helped him form a view of Mendelssohn's piano world which is not too heavily Romantic, but with a chaste Classical side to it.

Orchestral contributions from the City of Birmingham Orchestra under Lawrence Foster are ideal.

All in all, a lovely way to spend an hour and fifteen minutes with some lovely music.