Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto no. 5 in E flat major, op. 73 – known as the “Emperor” Concerto, heroic and powerful – performed by one of our most distinctive pianists, Hélène Grimaud. The excellent Staatskapelle Dresden is led by one of today’s young stars on the podium, Vladimir Jurowski, a charismatic musical genius – “more medium than conductor” (The Times) – who was recently appointed London Philharmonic Orchestra’s principal conductor. The chemistry between these musicians has the potential to create an extraordinary musical experience
Hélène Grimaud stands for individual, original record concepts with a story to tell. This time the concept is Beethoven pure. About his fifth Concerto, Grimaud notes that the challenge to master it helped her reach inside herself, and that the piece is an incredible teacher that infuses the player with incredible vitality
On this album, the Concerto is coupled with a piano sonata out of Beethoven’s late compositional phase where – noticeable in the slow movement of the concerto as well – the composer’s concern for lyricism had deepened. Thus intimacy and delicacy are the features in the beautiful Piano Sonata no. 28, op. 101 chosen by Grimaud