Salieri / Steffan: Concertos for Fortepiano - Andeas Staier / Concerto Köln

Antonio Salieri (Composer), Joseph Anton Steffan (Composer), Andreas Staier (Conductor), Concerto Köln (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Concerto Köln
• Conductor: Andreas Staier
• Composer: Antonio Salieri, Joseph Anton Steffan
• Audio CD (July 18, 1995)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Teldec
• ASIN: B000000SNR
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #72,032 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Concerto For Fortepiano In C Flat Major: Allegro maestoso

2. Concerto For Fortepiano In C Flat Major: Larghetto

3. Concerto For Fortepiano In C Flat Major: Andantino

4. Concerto For Fortepiano In B Flat Major: Allegro moderato

5. Concerto For Fortepiano In B Flat Major: Adagio

6. Concerto For Fortepiano In B Flat Major: Tempo di minuetto

7. Concerto For Fortepiano In B Flat Major: Adagio non molto - Allegro

8. Concerto For Fortepiano In B Flat Major: Andante non molto

9. Concerto For Fortepiano In B Flat Major: Allegro

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars the importance of context, December 1, 2000

By 

Jonathan J. Casey (the twin cities) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Salieri / Steffan: Concertos for Fortepiano - Andeas Staier / Concerto Köln (Audio CD)

The first two concertos here are by the now infamous Antonio Salieri, and while the B flat work seems to support the notion that he was no match for Mozart when it came to instrumental music, the C major concerto is a much greater work that even Salieri gave himself credit for. The Larghetto is beautiful and more moving than you might expect from a composer known for his mediocrity. Much of the orchestral accompaniment is a tasteful pizzicato strum, and Staier provides his own excellent candenza with the dampers on to provide a soft, ghostly touch. If you're not familiar with the sound of a fortepiano this wouldn't be a bad introduction. While it lacks some of the character of an original instrument, Staier's copy by Monika May of a c.1785 Walter has excellent, crisp (and well-tuned) treble and a big, reedy bass sound. The Andantino of this and the opening movement of the next Salieri concerto feature numerous colorful embellishments on the part of Concerto Köln, always a strong group. Despite the fine playing, though, which most effectively argues in favor of the C major work, Salieri's other effort in the genre doesn't have as much going for it. The minuet finale is light and pleasing enough and features a very bouncy bass line in the piano.

Steffan was a Bohemian respected for his keyboard composition and performance, much like Dussek but less tempestuous and ultimately less-appreciated. Failing eyesight virtually ended his career in 1775, but he did continue to write and this B flat piano concerto came between the years 1780-1790. It begins with a slow introduction in D minor, the first statement by the piano coming in after only 20 seconds. Very much worth hearing. The Allegro is a model of the Classical Viennese style. Cadenzas are the composer's, and while there are few surprises after the introduction, it is a fine addition to the canon and the finale is very energetic. Again the performance and recording are ideal, and while it's unlikely that we'll see a Steffan craze anytime soon, those interested in the music going on around Mozart would do well to listen to this CD. Piano aficionados should also look into Robert Hill's "Stepan - Music for Fortepiano" (MDG 620 0870-2). The liner notes to this Salieri/Steffan CD state that Steffan's contributions to Classicism have yet to be assesed. Listen for yourselves.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mozart Was No Match for Salieri ..., September 3, 2010

By 

Giordano Bruno (Wherever I am, I am.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Salieri / Steffan: Concertos for Fortepiano - Andeas Staier / Concerto Köln (Audio CD)

... in terms of career success and acclaim, and for that matter, in terms of influence on the history of music over the next generations. Salieri (1750-1825) of course outlived Mozart; in fact Salieri survived to become Franz Schubert's strongest teacher, while most of Mozart's sublime music slid into neglect. Salieri was above all, in his own mind and in popular appreciation, a composer of operas. These days a few of his works for musical stage are being revived, and they are not unworthy, but no one in his right musical mind would argue that they are on a par with Nozze di Figaro or Don Giovanni. At his best, Salieri bears comparison with Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and perhaps that's being generous.

Ironically, though Salieri disdained his own instrumental compositions, the two concerti for fortepiano recorded on this CD come closer to rivaling Mozart's productions than the operas. Both concerti, written in 1773, are marvels of frothy elegance, as were most of Mozart's, but the second movements, properly adagio, are highly expressive and original, as intriguing as any by Mozart, whose instrumental music Salieri was reported to adore. And no... Salieri did not poison his 'irrepressible' rival.

Joseph Anton Steffan (1726-1797) is possibly as 'forgotten' as any fine composer who ever lived. The Concerto for fortepiano and orchestra recorded on this CD was composed in the 1780s, when Steffan was already as blind as Beethoven was deaf. Contemporary with most of Mozart's fortepiano concerti, Steffan's work is surprisingly progressive, innovative in its relationship between the keyboard and the orchestra, treating the two as strong contenders for dominance rather than mere 'dance partners'. If my ears can be trusted, it seems to me than Steffan realized the potency of the fortepiano as an independent voice, far more emotive than the harpsichord, well before others of his era. In any case, this concerto is a welcome revenant from musical Lethe.

Andreas Staier plays a modern replica of a fortepiano/Hammerklavier by the Viennese Anton Walter of 1785. It's a clean and clear delight in timbre, and it dwells in paradise among the 18th C instruments of Concerto Köln, whose photo on the back of the note booklet shows them in their youthful confidence. Staier is my favorite, these days, among fortepianists, both for the precision of his technique and for the liveliness of his interpretations.