Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B flat minor, Op. 23

2 CDs for 1

This marvelous two disc set brings back into the catalogue Jerome Lowenthal's superb readings of all four of the works that Tchaikovsky wrote for piano and orchestra.

The recordings focus on Tchaikovsky's original, uncut scores in virtuoso performances by Lowenthal, accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, directed by the late Sergiu Comissiona.

The recordings, made in the late 1980s, were originally released on Arabesque. Both discs have been re-mastered for this release by Grammy-winning engineer, Adam Abeshouse.

“The Turkish pianist Idil Biret was one of the greatest child prodigies of the 20th century. Her recital at the Boston Conservatory demonstrated that she is no less prodigious today. She played a long and demanding program with the power, concentration, and pouncing instincts of a crouching tiger. This is the kind of playing that makes reservations irrelevant; there is no one like her, which is what defines a unique artist.” BOSTON GLOBE 2005

The New York Philharmonic and Vladimir Horowitz play Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in a performance recorded live at the Carnegie Hall April 1948 – a legendary performance! Also the Romeo and Juliet Overture with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra from June 1942.

Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 recorded in Paris in 1948. Kostia Konstatinov plays the piano concerto, once again a studio recording made in Paris, this time dating from 1941.

Having already recorded music by Rachmaninov, Chopin and Gottschalk for Transart, the exceptionally gifted young pianist, Laure Favre-Kahn, returns to play two of the most well known and demanding of the piano concerto repertoire, A frequent guest artiste with the major orchestras of Europe, Favre-Kahn is recognized as one of today’s outstanding musical talents. Grzegorz Nowak conducts the Orchestre de Bretagne with passion and fiery commitment.