Stephen Coombs, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Jean-Yves Ossonce - Hahn & Massenet: Piano Concertos (Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto 15) (1997)

Tracklist

01. Piano Concerto in E-Flat Major: I. Andante moderato – Allegro non troppo
02. Piano Concerto in E-Flat Major: II. Largo
03. Piano Concerto in E-Flat Major: III. Airs slovaques. Allegro
04. Piano Concerto in E Major: I. Improvisation. Modéré très librement
05. Piano Concerto in E Major: II. Danse. Vif
06. Piano Concerto in E Major: III. Rêverie, Toccata et Finale. Lent – Gai, fortement rythme, pas trop vite – Allegro

The Romantic Piano Concerto Series goes French for this recording of the single examples in the genre by Massenet and his pupil Hahn. Both works were written towards the end of their composers' careers and mark a return to the piano for each of them; the piano had originally been the first instrument of both, but opera and the voice had occupied them for most of their lives.

Although both concertos owe a debt to the lean and athletic piano style exemplified by Saint-Saëns, they are very different in character. The Massenet is an extrovert work culminating in a very Lisztian 'Hungarian' finale, while the Hahn is primarily lyrical and gentle, the composer's gifts as a composer of songs easily transferring to the concerto medium.

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