Grieg: Piano Concerto & Lyric Pieces Javier Perianes and Cuarteto Quiroga

• Edvard Grieg (1843-1907): Piano Concerto in A minor
• 1I. Allegro molto moderato13:40
• 2II. Adagio06:47
• 3III. Allegro moderato molto e marcato10:21
• Lyric Pieces
• 4Lyric Pieces, Op. 12: I. Arietta - Poco andante e sostenuto01:25
• 5Lyric Pieces, Op. 38: VIII. Kanon - Allegretto con moto05:00
• 6Lyric Pieces, Op. 43: I. Sommerfugl - Allegro grazioso01:54
• 7Lyric Pieces, Op. 43: II. Ensom vandrer - Allegretto semplice02:20
• 8Lyric Pieces, Op. 47: III. Melodi - Allegretto03:39
• 9Lyric Pieces, Op. 54: III. Trolltog - Allegro moderato02:59
• 10Lyric Pieces, Op. 54: IV. Notturno - Andante04:17
• 11Lyric Pieces, Op. 57: VI. Hjemveop - Andante04:33
• 12Lyric Pieces, Op. 68: III. For dine födder - Poco andante e molto espressivo03:03
• 13Lyric Pieces, Op. 68: V. Badnlatop - Allegretto tranquillamente03:27
• 14Lyric Pieces, Op.71: I. Det var engang - Andante con moto - Allegro brioso04:36
• 15Lyric Pieces, Op.71: VII. Efterklang - Tempo di valse01:52
• Total Runtime01:09:53

Info for Grieg: Piano Concerto & Lyric Pieces

Miniatures and large forms.The work of a young musician of 25, the celebrated Concerto of Grieg combines the great Romantic tradition (Liszt was one of its most fervent admirers) and Norwegian folk music, with the halling and springdans of its thrilling finale. Yet the composer never wrote another, for he felt more comfortable writing in miniature forms. In 35 years he produced no fewer than 66 Lyric Pieces, every one a gem, from the truculent March of the Trolls to the poetic meditations of Homesickness and Remembrances.

Javier Perianes, piano
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Sakari Oramo, conductor

Javier Perianes
a native of Andalusia, is one of the most exciting pianists of the new generation. Though steeped in the world-renowned Spanish repertory (Falla, Granados, Albéniz), he does not limit himself to it and likes to spotlight less often played composers such as Federico Mompou and Manuel Blasco de Nebra (1750-84), to each of whom he has devoted a recording released on his label harmonia mundi.

Alongside his roots in the music of his country, Javier Perianes is also a committed exponent of the great international piano repertory (Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Grieg, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel). His discs of Schubert, Debussy and Chopin, and Mendelssohn have earned acclaim from press and public alike. His most recent recording, devoted to Grieg’s Piano Concerto and a selection of Lyric Pieces, was widely praised by the critics and described as ‘a new benchmark’ by Classica, which awarded it a ‘Choc’; it was also Editor’s Choice in Gramophone and Maestro in Pianistes magazine. The leading musical venues have invited him to appear as soloist in recital or with such prestigious orchestras as the Vienna Philharmonic, Orchestre de Paris, Chicago, Boston and BBC Symphony Orchestras and conductors Zubin Mehta, Yuri Temirkanov, Charles Dutoit and Daniel Barenboim. An all-round musician, he also enjoys playing chamber music performing regularly with the Cuarteto Quiroga and also the violist Tabea Zimmermann.

In 2012 Javier Perianes received the National Music Prize awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Culture.

Cuarteto Quiroga
Described by The New York Times as giving ‘Exquisite: precise, perfectly balanced, interpretively fresh performances, couched in consistently warm hues’, the Spanish string quartet Cuarteto Quiroga, appointed quartet- in-residence in charge of the Royal Collection of decorated Stradivarius instruments at Madrid’s Royal Palace, has established itself as one of the most dynamic and unique quartets of its generation, winning international acclaim from critics and audiences alike for its distinctive personality as well as its bold and original approach to the string quartet repertory.

The quartet studied with Professors Rainer Schmidt, Walter Levin and Hatto Beyerle. Other important in uences are Johannes Meissl, György Kurtág, András Keller, Eberhard Feltz and Ferenc Rados.

The ensemble won prizes at several major international competitions (Bordeaux, Paolo Borciani, Geneva, Beijing, Fnapec-Paris, Palau-Barcelona) and appears regularly worldwide (Wigmore Hall London, Philharmonie Berlin, Frick Collection, Lincoln Center New York, DaCamera Los Angeles, National Gallery Washington DC, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, ProQuartet Paris, Martinů Hall Prague, Nybrokajen Stockholm, Auditorio Nacional Madrid, Heidelberger Frühling, Stadtcasino Basel, Teatro Mayor Bogotá, etc.). It is also the recipient of the Spanish National Radio Culture Prize. Frequent stage partners include Javier Perianes, Valentin Erben, Richard Lester, Alain Meunier, David Kadouch, Jonathan Brown and Vladimir Mendelssohn. Strongly committed to teaching chamber music, the quartet holds the String Quartet Chair at Zaragoza’s Conservatorio Superior (CSMA) and is invited to give masterclasses in Europe, the USA and Latin America. Its CDs ‘Statements’ (Haydn, Webern, Sollima), ‘(R)evolutions’ (Schoenberg, Webern, Berg) and ‘Frei aber einsam: the Opus 51 Quartets of Brahms’ (COBRA) have all been acclaimed by the international press and awarded several prizes and distinctions. Mr Sierra would like to thank the heirs of Paola Modiano for generously giving him the opportunity to play the 1682 Nicoló Amati violin ‘Arnold Rosé’.

Booklet for Grieg: Piano Concerto & Lyric Pieces