Joseph Moog, Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern, Nicholas Milton – Grieg & Moszkowski: Piano Concertos (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:05:24 minutes | 578 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Onyx Classics
Joseph Moog has established an enviable reputation as one of the most impressive virtuoso pianists of the younger generation. His catholic tastes embrace both the core repertoire and many works from its backwaters – works that were once warhorses, but have for no apparent reason fallen into unjust neglect. The Moszkowski piano concerto on this new CD is such a work. Overflowing with memorable tunes, the piano writing and indeed the handling of the orchestra marks this out as a very skilfully constructed work. Do not expect moments of profundity or an emotional roller coaster: just marvel at the fluidity and brilliance of Moszkowski’s writing. This is salon music of the highest order, and none the worse for that!
Moog couples the Moszkowski with one of the concertos in the repertoire whose fortunes have not waned – the evergreen Grieg concerto which never fails to impress the listener.
German pianist Joseph Moog, apparently unrelated to Robert, has been unusually adventurous with regard to repertoire, and he comes up with a winner on this Onyx release. The big news here is his revival of the Piano Concerto in E major, Op. 59, of Moritz Moszkowski, a work that would have been quite a popular repertory item in the years following its composition in 1898, but that is very sparsely represented on recordings these days. It’s a wonderful work that’s lots of fun for any classical listener, broadening out from Brahmsian formality to a really rollicking finale to which Moog gives full rhythmic value. The degree to which this work would enliven something like a summer outdoor symphonic concert would be hard to overstate, and on top of that there is a sharp, energetic performance of the well-worn Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16. Throw in flexible, alert support from the cumbersomely named Deutsche Radio Philharmonie Saarbrücken Kaiserslautern under Nicholas Milton, and fine studio sound from Saarland Radio, and this is a strongly recommended disc of late Romantic piano music. –AllMusic Review by James Manheim
Tracklist:
Moritz Moszkowski (1854-1925)
Piano Concerto in E, Op. 59
1. I. Moderato 11:44
2. II. Andante 08:25
3. III. Scherzo – Vivace 06:23
4. IV. Allegro deciso 09:01
Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)
Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op.16
5. I. Allegro molto moderato 12:36
6. II. Adagio 06:35
7. III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato 10:37
