Ernst von Dohnanyi was for many years a little known and unjustly neglected composer. Chandos’ series of recordings of works performed by Matthias Bamert and the BBC Philharmonic significantly increased his profile, and are regarded as best examples of this repertoire. 2010 marks the fiftieth anniversary of Dohnanyi’s death. To commemorate this anniversary, Chandos has packaged the two Piano Concertos on one album, released on the Classics label. Fifty years separate Dohnányi’s Piano Concerto No. 1 from his Piano Concerto No. 2. Dohnányi’s Piano Concerto No. 1, completed when he was just twenty-one, won the prestigious Bösendorfer Prize. Piano Concerto No.2 is a thoroughly engaging work and notable for being perhaps the last substantial piano concerto written in the grand Romantic tradition. The irrepressible Howard Shelley performs these virtuosic concertos.
Performance ***** Recording ***** “…And for Shelley, it’s an utterly jaw-dropping tour de force.” Jessica Duchen
