Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.20 & 21 Jan Lisiecki, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks & Christian Zacharias

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791): Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K.466:
• 1 1. Allegro 14:35
• 2 2. Romance 08:32
• 3 3. Rondo (Allegro assai) 08:18
• Piano Concerto No.21 in C Major, K.467:
• 4 1. Allegro maestoso 14:34
• 5 2. Andante 06:13
• 6 3. Allegro vivace assai 07:21
• Frédéric Chopin (1810 - 1849): Waltz No.7 In C Sharp Minor, Op.64 No.2:
• 7 Waltz No.7 In C Sharp Minor, Op.64 No.2 03:48
• Total Runtime 01:03:21

Info for Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.20 & 21

The Deutsche Grammophon debut of Canadian phenomenon, Jan Lisiecki, who is at the age of 16 already a household name in his home country.

Born to Polish parents, Jan is fluent in three languages and, in lightning speed, already finished his schooling last year, simultaneous to signing an exclusive recording deal with the Yellow Label. Like many 16 year olds, he got his driver s license - but he is also taking pilot lessons so he can be free to discover and travel the world, to meet people and most importantly of course, to play the piano!

I love what I do. No one has ever pushed me into becoming a pianist. It was just something that happened very organically, very naturally, not something I ever intended would happen.

Mozart s Piano Concertos nos. 20 and 21 are technically challenging and make interpretive demands of which only the most imaginative artist is capable. No.20 alternates tempestuousness with contemplation; no. 21 shimmers with playful, pensive grandeur

Jan Lisiecki explains: Mozart often wrote very different works at one and the same time. Even so, the carefree surface of the C major Concerto conceals beneath it traces of the dark energy of the D minor Concerto. Conversely, this last-named piece also has something of the lightness of the C major Concerto. That s why I was so keen to record both these pieces together.

Christian Zacharias, highly respected for his Mozart interpretations both as a pianist and conductor, and the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra, embrace Jan Lisiecki s piano with crystalline sonorities - perfect for this music

„. . Lisiecki is a young pianist with a musical voice that belies his age . . . How great to hear a youngster with that amount of personality . . . Chopin remains very close to his heart . . . [Chopin Études CD]: Lisiecki's Polish roots clearly go deep and Chopin's music draws from him a very special, and original, response . . . When, if ever, have you heard the Chopin Etudes played as pure music, given as naturally as breathing yet recreated from an entirely novel perspective? . . . [ Mozart Piano Concertos CD]: [a] fine pianist-conductor Christian Zacharias. But this was certainly not a case of an experienced Mozartian leading the way -- Lisiecki is definitely his own man, with strong views about the music . . . a musician with a golden future ahead of him . . . we hope that his talent is allowed to unfold naturally and true to his musical instincts; his is a gift too rare to be squandered.“ (James Jolly, Bryce Morrison, Gramophone)

„His playing here -- pristine, lyrical and intelligent -- shows uncommon maturity. Having just turned 18, Mr. Lisiecki is on a career roll . . . this is beautiful Mozart playing, direct, unmannered and fresh. Mr. Lisiecki is fortunate in his collaborators: the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and the conductor Christian Zacharias, better known as a fine pianist, who draws crisp, textured and vibrant playing from the ensemble . . . He conveys the sternness in the movement's more intense passages, but there is welcome refinement in his approach. And when the driving rondo finale breaks into D major ebullience at the end, the shift in tone seems adequately prepared. Mr. Lisiecki is elegant and spirited in the great C major Concerto. This is a detail-oriented pianist who makes every note count and plays with utter rhythmic integrity.“ (Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times)

Jan Lisiecki, piano
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks
Christian Zacharias, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Mozart: Piano Concertos Nos.20 & 21