Alfred Schnittke: The Piano Concertos

Alfred Schnittke’s early years were difficult as he lived through the Soviet Era, often finding himself the target of Soviet bureaucracy. Before his emigration to the West some of his works were banned and he battled with a lack of recognition.

This new SACD from Phoenix Edition brings together première recordings of all three piano concertos. Schnittke developed his own unique style, taking up the serial tecnique and developing a style known as ‘polystylism’, juxtaposing various styles both past and present. This is evident in both the second and third concertos featured on this disc. This didn’t help the suspician the surrounded his music, and as his works could not be ascribed to any particular style it was never able to be taken seriously. Many of his works are either unknown or have not yet been performed.

Ewa Kupiec is recognised as one of Europe's most dedicated interpreters of contemporary music. Her performance in 2004 of Schnittke's First Piano Concerto with the Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra was the first performance of this work since 1964. This successful collaboration immediately led to a further invitation to record all of Schnittke's works for piano and orchestra (including the concerto for four hands).