Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5 Olli Mustonen, Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra & Hannu Lintu

• Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953): Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor, Op. 16 (1923 Version):
• 1 I. Andantino - Allegretto 11:57
• 2 II. Scherzo. Vivace 02:59
• 3 III. Intermezzo. Allegro moderato 07:04
• 4 IV. Finale. Allegro tempestoso 11:55
• Piano Concerto No. 5 in G Major, Op. 55:
• 5 I. Allegro con brio 05:15
• 6 II. Moderato ben accentuato 04:02
• 7 III. Toccata. Allegro con fuoco 01:58
• 8 IV. Larghetto 06:27
• 9 V. Vivo 06:01
• Total Runtime 57:38

Info for Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5

This is the second and final recording in a cycle of Sergei Prokofiev’s (1891–1953) piano concertos with pianist Olli Mustonen and the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Lintu. The Gramophone Magazine wrote regarding the first volume in the series: "How many times have I regretted a shortage of fantasy, flair and fairy-tale imagination in recordings of the Prokofiev piano concertos? Well, here is a disc that takes all those qualities to the top."

Prokofiev’s Piano Concertos are among 20th century masterpieces. Upon reading the score of the 2nd Piano Concerto before its premiere, composer Nikolay Miaskovsky wrote to Prokofiev: "When I was reading through your concerto tonight, lying in bed, I went almost crazy with admiration: I jumped and cried out, so that if I had neighbours, they’d have probably thought I’d gone mad." Prokofiev wrote this magical work just before World War I. The original score was destroyed during the Russian revolution, and Prokofiev had to re-write the concerto in 1923. Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 5 is completely different in nature than its predecessors. A stylistic change towards simplicity is evident in the work. Although Prokofiev considered naming the work "Music for Piano and Orchestra" he produced in the end a challenging concerto that tests any soloist’s technique. Prokofiev himself gave the first performance in Berlin on 31 October 1932.

Pianist Olli Mustonen has worked with most of the world’s leading orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic and The Royal Concertgebouw, partnering conductors such as Ashkenazy, Barenboim, Dutoit, Eschenbach, Harnoncourt, Masur and Nagano. As a recitalist, he plays in all the significant musical capitals, including Mariinsky Theatre St Petersburg, Wigmore Hall, Beethoven-Haus Bonn, Symphony Center Chicago, New York Zankel Hall and Sydney Opera House. His many albums for Ondine include Respighi’s Concerto in modo Misolidio with Sakari Oramo and the Finnish Radio Symphony and a critically acclaimed disc of Scriabin’s solo piano music.

The recent recordings by the Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Hannu Lintu on Ondine have been a fruitful collaboration gathering excellent reviews in the international press.

Olli Mustonen, piano
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Lintu, conductor

No biography found.

Booklet for Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 5