COMPOSERS: Mendelssohn
LABELS: Naxos
WORKS: Concertos for Two Pianos
PERFORMER: Benjamin Frith, Hugh Tinney (piano)RTE Sinfonietta/Proinnsías Ó Duinn
CATALOGUE NO: 8.553416
Mendelssohn’s concertos for two pianos were written during October and November 1824, and form links in a youthful canon of works which pre-date the Octet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture. The double piano concertos were recorded for BIS in 1994, by Roland Pöntinen and Love Derwinger, with the Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam under Lev Markiz. Good as they are, the Swedes don’t match the carefree exuberance of Benjamin Frith and Hugh Tinney, who obviously relish this music. The sunny Allegros framing both works have plenty of dash and spirit and the slow movements are deliciously nuanced. Proinnsías Ó Duinn and the RTE Sinfonietta give creditable support and the budget Naxos recording from Dublin’s National Concert Hall is pleasingly balanced and natural. Why pay more? Michael Jameson
Mendelssohn: Concertos for Two Pianos
Mendelssohn’s concertos for two pianos were written during October and November 1824, and form links in a youthful canon of works which pre-date the Octet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture. The double piano concertos were recorded for BIS in 1994, by Roland Pöntinen and Love Derwinger, with the Nieuw Sinfonietta Amsterdam under Lev Markiz. Good as they are, the Swedes don’t match the carefree exuberance of Benjamin Frith and Hugh Tinney, who obviously relish this music. The sunny Allegros framing both works have plenty of dash and spirit and the slow movements are deliciously nuanced.
Our rating
3
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:38 pm