Dohnanyi – Piano Concertos No.1 & 2

This ‘Classics’ release marks the 50^th anniversary of Dohnanyi’s death and reprises the two Piano Concertos performed in great style by Howard Shelley. He is accompanied by the BBC Philharmonic and conductor Matthias Bamert. The first concerto was composed whilst Dohnanyi was just 21, and won the prestigious Bosendorfer prize. The second concerto was composed 50 years later and is a thoroughly engaging work, notable for being perhaps one of the last substantial piano concertos written in the grand Romantic style. The Daily Telegraph commented of the original release “Howard Shelley brings breadth and bravura to the Piano Concerto No.2” and Gramophone magazine “Howard Shelley is as elegant and professional as you might expect”. The disc sells at lower mid price.

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.