Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Mendelssohn's piano concertos are not the standard repertory works they were in the 19th century, when they seemed to display the capabilities of the new instrument in an accessible way. But there are various recordings, with both historical and modern pianos and orchestral instruments. This one comes from veteran Dutch fortepianist Ronald Brautigam, who has recorded Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words nicely in the past. Here he takes on a variety of the composer's concerted works, and that's one strong point: the Rondo Brillant in E flat major for piano and orchesra, Op. 29, Capriccio Brillant in B minor, Op. 22, and Serenade and Allegro Giojoso, Op. 43, are not commonly played, and Brautigam's piano, a replica of a Pleyel instrument of 1830 by Americo-Czech builder Paul McNulty, gives a real feel for what Mendelssohn's audiences heard and why he was so popular: the works are brilliant, melodic, and natural under his fingers. In the concertos, Brautigam is strongest in the slow movements, which are close to the melodic idiom of the Songs Without Words; in the outer movements, the fortepiano doesn't quite stand up to the vibrato-free strings of Die Kölner Akademie under Michael Alexander Willens, and you might wish for a more powerful instrument. Your mileage may vary, however, and most will find this a worthwhile addition to the Mendelssohn discography.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $17.49/month
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 25, MWV O 7 (Felix Mendelssohn)
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Piano Concerto No. 2 in D Minor, Op. 40, MWV O 11 (Felix Mendelssohn)
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Serenade und Allegro giojoso, Op. 43, MWV O 12 (Felix Mendelssohn)
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Felix Mendelssohn, Composer - Ronald Brautigam, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Michael Alexander Willens, Conductor, MainArtist - Die Kölner Akademie, Orchestra, MainArtist
2019 BIS 2019 (P) BIS
Album review
Mendelssohn's piano concertos are not the standard repertory works they were in the 19th century, when they seemed to display the capabilities of the new instrument in an accessible way. But there are various recordings, with both historical and modern pianos and orchestral instruments. This one comes from veteran Dutch fortepianist Ronald Brautigam, who has recorded Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words nicely in the past. Here he takes on a variety of the composer's concerted works, and that's one strong point: the Rondo Brillant in E flat major for piano and orchesra, Op. 29, Capriccio Brillant in B minor, Op. 22, and Serenade and Allegro Giojoso, Op. 43, are not commonly played, and Brautigam's piano, a replica of a Pleyel instrument of 1830 by Americo-Czech builder Paul McNulty, gives a real feel for what Mendelssohn's audiences heard and why he was so popular: the works are brilliant, melodic, and natural under his fingers. In the concertos, Brautigam is strongest in the slow movements, which are close to the melodic idiom of the Songs Without Words; in the outer movements, the fortepiano doesn't quite stand up to the vibrato-free strings of Die Kölner Akademie under Michael Alexander Willens, and you might wish for a more powerful instrument. Your mileage may vary, however, and most will find this a worthwhile addition to the Mendelssohn discography.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 10 track(s)
- Total length: 01:14:02
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Ronald Brautigam Die Kölner Akademie Michael Alexander Willens
- Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
- Label: BIS
- Genre: Classical
2019 BIS 2019 BIS
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.