Weber: Piano Concertos No.1 and No.2/Konzertstück

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No.1 in C major, Op.11, J98
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Marek Drewnowski
Conducted by Antoni Wit

2. Piano Concerto No.2 in E-flat major, Op 32, J155
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Marek Drewnowski
Conducted by Antoni Wit

3. Konzertstück for Piano & Orchestra in F minor, Op. 79 (J282)
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber
Performed by Marek Drewnowski
Conducted by Antoni Wit

Tracks:

Allegro
Adagio
Presto
Allegro Maestoso
Adagio
Rondo: Presto
Polacca Brilliante (L'hilarite), Op. 72
Konzertstuck In F Minor Op. 79

Customer Reviews:

Very Good Weber at Great Price.......2007-03-08

Carl Maria von Weber gave the first performance of his Opus 11 Concerto in C Major on 19 November 1810 in Mannheim. This work provides a connection between Mozart and Beethoven and those who followed as Classical eventually gave way to Romantic. There are considerable technical demands made on any pianist who attempt to play Weber's piano works. This was because Weber's hands had a particularly wider stretch than most. The soloist on this recording is Benjamin Frith, who seems to be up to the challenge. Weber's Piano Concerto No. 2 in E flat was completed in 1812, with the first performance given by the composer on 17 December. He started on a 3rd concerto in 1815, which turned out to be just a single movement Konzertstuck (Concert-Piece) in F minor, Op. 79. It was completed in 1821. Gramophone magazine's review stated that "The Konzertstuck goes very well, with plenty of colour in the phrasing and a lively orchestral accompaniment to match." The very challenging arpeggios and other heavy demands are expertly dispatched by the soloist Frith. The Penguin Guide states that Frith "receives splendid support from (conductor) O'Duinn and the excellent Dublin Sinfonietta...(the Konzertstuck is particularly fine)". As a nice bonus Naxos adds Weber's solo piano work, the Polacca Brillante, that was transcribed by Franz Liszt for piano and orchestra. Liszt uses as an introduction to this work part of Weber's earlier Grande Polonaise. All in all, this CD is very well recorded, if a little heavy on the timpani. This is contrary to the anonymous reviewer below. Although perhaps not quite up to Steven Hough's full-priced recording on Hyperion, this budget price release on the highly-respected Naxos label is an attractive alternative.

Could be better.......2002-09-29

This CD is a poor peformance of some wonderful music. The sound quality is bad, and the rendition second rate. The wonderful piano music of Weber deserves better. The Konzertstuk, alone, is worth listening to.

Weber: Piano Concertos/Konzertstuck in Fm

Average customer rating:

Padded Sound and Pokey Tempos
URGENTLY VITAL WEBER

Weber: Piano Concertos/Konzertstuck in Fm

Manufacturer: Berlin Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000035LT
Release Date: 1993-12-07

Tracks:

Konzertstuck in f, Op. 79
Grand Con No. 1 in C, Op. 11: I. Allegro
Grand Con No. 1 in C, Op. 11: II. Adagio
Grand Con No. 1 in C, Op. 11: III. Finale. Presto
Con No. 2 in E-Flat, Op. 32: I. Allegro
Con No. 2 in E-Flat, Op. 32: II. Adagio
Con No. 2 in E-Flat, Op. 32: III. Rondo. Presto

Customer Reviews:

Padded Sound and Pokey Tempos.......2004-04-17

This is a nice sounding disk. The orchestra is lush sounding and a little overly padded. No surprises here, everything is pretty much done by the book. The main problem is that the tempi lag miserably. The pianist, Peter Rosel, plays the cascading figurations that open the First Concerto's Rondo so slowly that he manages to make the piece sound like a Czerny exercise. The perpetuum mobile figuration is one that Weber used famously (and often), but in both rondos, the slow tempi rob the music of much of its joy. It just doesn't sound the way it is supposed to when played that slowly. He seems a lot more comfortable in the slow movements where lingering over the notes points up Weber's operatic sentimentality beautifully.

URGENTLY VITAL WEBER.......2003-06-21

Carl Maria von Weber [1786-1826], that chimerical showman, prescient pianist and Romantic era sojourner, would have, I'm sure, heartily praised these performances for their spirit, intuitive lyricism and burnished glow. Rarely have I heard the two piano concertos sound more emotionally involving--- and less hackneyed. Opening movements sparkle, as they should, yet beneath the clever exteriors, pianist Peter Rosel exposes Weber's hidden melancholy vein. The revelation is surprisingly moving, and such unexpected turns frequent these wonderful interpretations. It follows, naturally, that the slow movements would be no less inspired. They are, indeed, simply beautiful, unforced, caressing--- the interplay between pianist and orchestra, mesmerizing. Thus, when the attractive, buoyant finales arrive, the contrast is irrepressibly spontaneous. No less can be said for Weber's imaginative and moody Konzertstuck in F minor, where contrast and shading, subtlety and virtuosity are the key elements in this seventeen minute phantasmagoria. Throughout, pianist Rosel's simpatico is above reproach, his grasp on Weber, a model. The Dresden Staatskapelle, under the fine leadership of Herbert Blomstedt, is thoroughly attuned. The recording, faithfully clear and warm, enhanced by the prominence of the piano, gives an already superb set of performances that much more definition and authority.

Tracks:

Pno Con No.1 in C Op.18, J 98 (1810): Allegro
Pno Con No.1 in C Op.18, J 98 (1810): Adagio
Pno Con No.1 in C Op.18, J 98 (1810): Presto
Pno Con No.2 in E flat Op.32, J 155 (1812): Alegro maestoso
Pno Con No.2 in E flat Op.32, J 155 (1812): Adagio
Pno Con No.2 in E flat Op.32, J 155 (1812): Rondo. Presto
'Konzertstuck' for Pno & Orch in f Op.79, J 282 (1821): Larghetto affettuoso
'Konzertstuck' for Pno & Orch in f Op.79, J 282 (1821): Allegro passionato - Tempo di marcia
'Konzertstuck' for Pno & Orch in f Op.79, J 282 (1821): Piu moto - Presto giojoso

Weber: Piano Concertos No.1 and No.2/Konzertstück

Average customer rating:

Solid, but lacking in imagination

Weber: Piano Concertos No.1 and No.2/Konzertstück

Manufacturer: Arts Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000005AQF
Release Date: 1997-02-18

Tracks:

Pno Con No.1, Op.11 in C: I. Allegro
Pno Con No.1, Op.11 in C: II. Adagio
Pno Con No.1, Op.11 in C: III. Presto
Pno Con No.2, Op.32 in E flat: I. Allegro Maestoso
Pno Con No.2, Op.32 in E flat: II. Adagio
Pno Con No.2, Op.32 in E flat: III. Rondo: Presto
Konzertstuck, Op.79 in f: Larghetto Ma Non Troppo-Allegro Appassionato Tempo Di Marcia-Presto Assai

Customer Reviews:

Solid, but lacking in imagination.......2004-11-02

These concertos for piano are in my opinion sorely neglected-- with the exception of the Konzertstuck which does receive performances from time to time. Far more refined and charming than the Chopin Piano Concertos, which do that esteemed composer a disservice. Drewnowski is a competent pianist and plays well, especially in the Konzertstuck, although his tempos in the Concertos drag in places. It's a shame that he didn't give the concertos the attention they deserve, especially the second in E flat, which is a tremendously powerful work, akin to the Beethoven concerto in the same key. Long sections of the piece are badly thought out and frankly boring. Antoni Wit and the Polish Radio Symphony are solid throughout.

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