Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos - Lisiecki, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (3 CDs)

Jan Lisiecki was hailed by the critics for his live performances of Beethoven’s five piano concerts at the Konzerthaus Berlin:

“A sparkling performance that seems refreshingly spontaneous – yet is intellectually perfectly formed" – Der Tagesspiel

After his successful album “Mendelssohn”, the Canadian pianist now dedicates his next album to the five piano concertos by Ludwig van Beethoven – once again in the double role as soloist and conductor, accompanied by the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

Jan Lisiecki believes that “Beethoven certainly did not conceive the 5 concertos as a cycle. In spite of this, they belong together because they reveal such a differentiated picture of Beethoven, starting with the first two concertos”, which still disclose the legacy of Mozart, the very different works No. 3 and 4 up to the majestic E flat major concerto No. 5.

Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58 has played a significant role in Jan Lisiecki’s career. In 2013, he performed the work with Orchestra Mozart under Claudio Abbado in Bologna, replacing an indisposed Martha Argerich at very short notice.

The album includes the concerto the young Canadian pianist made his Carnegie Hall debut with – together with the Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin.

"Given that these performances were captured, according to the publicity, during rehearsals and performances, their presentation on discs is remarkably sleek and finished...Overall, it is the rondos which are most appealing in their infectiously playful abandon...There remains a great deal to enjoy in these performances, their freshness certainly, but perhaps, most of all, their promise of greater things to come." --Gramophone

Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 73 'Emperor'