Grieg-Schumann Piano Concertos

Janne Mertanen · Gävle Symphony Orchestra · Edvard Grieg · Robert Schumann

2013 · ABCD 356

Credits

Performers: Janne Mertanen — PianoGävle Symphony Orchestra
Composers: Edvard GriegRobert Schumann
Conductors and other contributors: Hannu Koivula — Conductor

About this release

Grieg - Schumann
Piano concertos
Janne Mertanen, piano
Gävle Symphony Orchestra
Hannu Koivula, conductor
Familiar piano concertos come gloriously to life
The Gävle Symphony Orchestra, led by pianists Janne Mertanen and Hannu Koivula, will play the popular, touching Piano Concertos in A minor by Edvard Grieg and Robert Schumann on their new album. Bryce Morrison, a respected English critic, describes Mertanen's pianism: "The works contain the living and breathing, impulsive pulse of romanticism. The playing throughout is like a wonderful concert, without the dangers of clinical studio conditions... What a bright contrast he creates between dance virtuosity and sudden intimate backwaters... Even the most familiar pages of the score start to sound excitingly new."
The Gävle Symphony Orchestra, which celebrated its centenary in 2012, is one of the oldest orchestras in Sweden, over the years it has grown into a full-scale orchestra of 52 players. The Gävle Symphony Orchestra has been led by renowned chief conductors since the beginning.

Tracks

Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 16 (1868)
1.Allegro molto moderatocomp. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)ISRC FIABA130001613:18
2.Adagiocomp. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)ISRC FIABA13000176:49
3.Allegro moderato molto e marcato - Quasi presto - Andante maestosocomp. Edvard Grieg (1843-1907)ISRC FIABA13000189:52
Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 54 (1845)
4.Allegro affettuosocomp. Robert Schumann (1810-1856)ISRC FIABA130001915:11
5.Intermezzo: Andantino graziosocomp. Robert Schumann (1810-1856)ISRC FIABA13000205:31
6.Allegro vivacecomp. Robert Schumann (1810-1856)ISRC FIABA13000219:58

Reviews

The Schumann is cut from the same cloth though not as convincing; trying to fit the composer’s orchestrations into a Chopinesque milieu is square peg-round hole territory.
American Record Guide · Mark Koldys · June 26, 2014
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…for an excellently recorded performance which seems “live” and for the warmth and spontaneity of Mertanen and his orchestra, this Alba album could even be considered as a first choice for many. Even collectors with stacks of recordings of these beloved concerti should listen to this one. I was totally captivated by it, renewed and reminded of the thrill of my first hearing. Here, these two concertos are not to be viewed as war horses but healthy young stallions fresh out of their stables!…
SA-CD.net · John Miller · July 24, 2014
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The trade-off is that the initial moments of the cadenza lack the shimmer that is so pleasing in Moiseiwitch’s performance.
Fanfare · Myron Silberstein · August 19, 2014
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Mertanen plays with virtuosity, individuality, and conviction. Hannu Koivula’s conducting is extraordinarily colorful and sensitive. The performance of the Grieg immediately entered my pantheon of great recordings and is, in my opinion, equal to any of the most revered recordings of that most standard of piano warhorses. © 2014
Fanfare
Fanfare · Myron Silberstein · October 10, 2014
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Konserttopari antautuu pehmeästi
”Janne Mertasen soitossa on lyyristä unelmaisuutta, melodista herkkyyttä ja sähäkkää bravuuria suhteessa, joka sävyttää Edvard Griegin ja Robert Schumannin pianokonsertot taas hiukan toisin kuin on totuttu. Vähemmän mahtailua, enemmän antautuvaa pehmeyttä. Yhteinen hengitys Hannu Koivulan johtaman Gävlen sinfoniaorkesterin kanssa tuntuu myös löytyneen.”
Jukka
Helsingin Sanomat · Jukka Isopuro
Visst behöver vi Mertanen!
”Behöver vi Janne Mertanens tolkningar av dessa svårt sönderspelade stycken? Absolut.
Varför? I första hand antagligen för den genuint poetiska känsla Janne Mertanen inympar i de så bekanta ärkeromantiska tonflödena. I andra hand som en påminnelse om att även de, till synes, mest sluthörda verk i rätta händer kan förlänas ständigt nya insikter och poänger.
[…] han närmar sig etablerade sanningar med en välgörande nyfikenhet och spontanitet. Hans Schumann är ett…
HBL · Mats Liljeroos
”Janne Mertanen’s bravura is also commanding, as, more importantly, are his tenderness and spontaneous poetic response. The Gävle Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Koivula also play gloriously and have an initial advantage in that the recording is multichannel, warm, full and very well balanced, with a truthful piano image, which applies whether one plays the disc on SACD equipment or an ordinary stereo system. All in all, this is a most impressive new arrival and maybe a first choice for many…”
Ivan
Gramophone · Ivan March
”…gorgeously played and may find an appreciative audience. Both works are bathed in warm, resonant acoustics that couldn’t be more apposite. Thanks to Alba for efforts to keep the surround SACD format reasonable.”
KOLDYS Guide · American Record