Hannah Holgersson (soprano), Marie Olhans (mezzo-soprano), Maria Sanner (alto), Mikael Stenbaek (tenor), Gunnar Birgersson (baritone) & Ove Pettersson (bass)
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For the final instalment of his survey of Beethoven’s works for piano and orchestra, Ronald Brautigam has saved ‘the final crowning glory of his concerto output’, as Beethoven specialist Barry Cooper describes the Fifth Piano Concerto in his liner notes. It is coupled on this disc with the Choral Fantasia – an intriguing work scored for piano, orchestra and chorus with vocal soloists.
he individual discs in Ronald Brautigam’s series have received numerous distinctions, including a MIDEM Classical Award in 2010, and his performances have been weighed against classic recordings by legendary pianists. Ronald Brautigam, the Norrköping Symphony Orchestra and Andrew Parrott are in their usual top form, with the brief but crucial appearance of the eminent Eric Ericson Chamber Choir in the Choral Fantasia.
Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73, "Emperor"
I. Allegro
II. Adagio un poco mosso
III. Rondo: Allegro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Fantasia, Op. 80, "Choral Fantasy"
Fantasia, Op. 80, "Choral Fantasy"
January 2011
****
“The opening of the concerto is excellent: Parrott gets appropriately spacious playing from the orchestra, while the bell-like tone of Brautigam's instrument - a Steinway Model D - helps to prevent the music from sounding too bombastic...[in the Fantasia] Brautigam could almost be Beethoven himself improvising.”
Awards Issue 2010
“Notes pour and sparkle from Brautigam's fingers like diamonds...clearly Bruatigam has chosen his instrument to reflect his love of clarity, lightness and speed”
11th September 2010
“Cutting through any deadening deference, here’s an endearing spring clean to give these classics a new bounce and vigour...Two centuries of gilt are scraped off and the gain in dynamism is immense.”
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I. Allegro
