Beethoven: Triple Concerto

by Philharmonia Orchestra, Santtu-Matias Rouvali

Overview

It is rare that an all-star performance of one of the big piano trios or of Beethoven's Triple Concerto in C major, Op. 56, essentially a concerto for piano trio and orchestra, really succeeds; soloists with busy schedules generally don't have the time for concentrated chamber music study with new partners. An exception is this 2024 release, featuring violinist Nicola Benedetti, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, and cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason in the Beethoven, with Santtu-Mathias Rouvali conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra. Rouvali starts things off effectively, defining big spaces for the soloists with the opening tutti, and Kanneh-Mason grabs the spotlight with a highly expressive opening cello line. The other two players carefully weave him into the trio texture as they appear. The good news continues in the other two movements, with Kanneh-Mason delivering a slow, deeply lyrical slow movement and the players joining for a finale that brings out the Polish dance rhythm. A bonus is a collection of Beethoven's folk song settings for the same instrumental combination plus baritone Gerald Finley. His contributions are neutral, and the sound recording doesn't do him any favors, but the instrumental players do justice to these little pieces, which sometimes contain interesting subtleties. They are often treated as money-making piecework for Beethoven, but in fact, he continued writing them even when he had not been commissioned. A Fritz Kreisler transcription of the Londonderry Air, also known as Danny Boy, makes an effectively sentiment-laden, if not especially relevant, finale for an above-average release by young stars. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	10/04/2024
Label:	Decca Uk
UPC:	0028948701100

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Benjamin Grosvenor   Primary Artist,Piano
Sheku Kanneh-Mason   Primary Artist,Cello
Nicola Benedetti   Primary Artist,Violin
Santtu-Matias Rouvali   Primary Artist,Conductor
Philharmonia Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Gerald Finley   Primary Artist,Baritone (Vocal),Bass Baritone

Technical Credits

Jenny Stewart   Label Manager
Helen Rogers   Executive Producer
Chris O'Donovan   Photography
Dominic Fyfe   Executive Producer,Producer
Philip Siney   Mastering Engineer,Recording,Engineer
Tom Service   Liner Notes
Ian Watson   Assistant Engineer
Jonathan Allen   Recording Producer,Producer,Editing
Daniel Fesquet   Liner Note Translation
Hugo Kreisler   Arranger
Joanne Baines   A&R
Anne Schneider   Liner Note Translation
Fritz Kreisler   Composer,Arranger
Helen Lewis   Executive Producer,Producer
Ludwig van Beethoven   Original Material,Composer
Traditional   Composer