George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar, Vasily Petrenko – Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 – Liszt: Solo Piano Works (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:04:40 minutes | 849 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics
George Li gained international attention in 2015 when he won the silver medal in the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Now he has recorded one of Tchaikovsky’s greatest and best-loved works, the Piano Concerto No 1 with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Vasily Petrenko. The New York Times has called him a “real revelation” in the work. It is complemented by three solo pieces by Liszt, a composer who featured on his debut Warner Classics recital, judged “a winner” by International Piano magazine.
Discovered at the prestigious International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow in 2015, where he took joint second place with Lukas Geniušas, young American pianist of Chinese descent George Li returns here for a second album released by Warner Classics. A francophile, he studied French literature at Harvard while travelling the world for concerts. A very flattering piece in the New York Times spoke of a “revelation” being provided by his performance of the much-played favourite, Tchaikovsky’s First Concerto, recorded in London in 2019 with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with new musical director Vasily Petrenko conducting. The tempo is comfortable, as is the rest of this very polished performance by both pianist and conductor, who bring out a thousand and one details of a score that many had thought they knew inside-out. One would also note the quality of the soloists in the orchestra: flute, oboe, bassoon or solo cello, all supremely expressive. What’s more, this album also contains three pieces by Franz Liszt: two extracts from Années de pèlerinage (Les Jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este and Sonetto 104 del Petrarca) and the diabolical Réminiscences de Don Juan after Mozart. – François Hudry
Tracklist:
1. George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar & Vasily Petrenko – Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23: I. Allegro non troppo e molto maestoso – Allegro con spirito (48kHz) (21:17)
2. George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar & Vasily Petrenko – Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23: II. Andantino semplice – Allegro vivace assai – Tempo I (48kHz) (06:50)
3. George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar & Vasily Petrenko – Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 23: III. Allegro con fuoco – Molto meno mosso – Allegro vivo (48kHz) (06:47)
4. George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar & Vasily Petrenko – Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, Troisième année, “Italie”, S. 163: IV. Les Jeux d’eaux á la Villa d’Este (96kHz) (07:15)
5. George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar & Vasily Petrenko – Liszt: Années de pèlerinage, Deuxième année, “Italie”, S. 161: V. Sonetto 104 del Petrarca (96kHz) (06:09)
6. George Li, London Philharmonic Orchestar & Vasily Petrenko – Liszt: Réminiscences de Don Juan, S. 418 (96kHz) (16:18)
