CHOPIN: Piano Concertos - Jan Simon, Prague Philharmonia, Jiří Bělohlávek

Fryderyk Chopin (1810-1849), whose 200th birthday will be celebrated by the whole musical world in 2010, remained faithful to the piano throughout his entire career. More than any other instrument, the piano was his passion, and perhaps more than any other composer before him, he understood its technique and drew inspiration from its character. Two of his early piano concertos rank among his first truly timeless masterpieces. Rich ornamentation, striking harmonic progressions, flawless piano stylization and, in particular, fresh, intricate melodies make both of them gems of the piano concerto literature. Jan Simon, a Czech pianist with many years of experience on major international concert stages, has taken on the challenges presented by these works, and under his fingers Chopin's music flows with lightness, confidence and bravura, as if the work were a momentary inspiration. Simon finds ideal partners in Jiří Bělohlávek and the Prague Philharmonia, who are not only sensitive accompanists, but also passionate protagonists in their own right.

Frédéric Chopin
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in E minor, Op. 11
1. Allegro maestoso 20:22
2. Romance. Larghetto 09:39
3. Rondo. Vivace 10:55
Frédéric Chopin
Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 2 in F minor, Op. 21
4. Maestoso 14:16
5. Larghetto 08:48
6. Allegro vivace 08:31