Franz Schmidt - Beethoven Variations; Piano Concerto (Markus Becker)

Information

Composer: Franz Schmidt

1. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Langsam
2. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Thema (Scherzo, allegro vivace)
3. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Ruhig fliessend
4. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Lebhaft, doch nicht zu schnell (Tempo di Bolero)
5. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Sehr langsam
6. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Langsam
7. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Sehr lebhaft
8. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Sehr ruhig
9. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Mässig bewegt
10. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): Sehr lebhaft
11. Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for Piano & Orchestra (for left hand): (Fugato)
12. Piano Concerto in E flat major (for left hand): I. Allegro moderato un poco
13. Piano Concerto in E flat major (for left hand): II. Andante
14. Piano Concerto in E flat major (for left hand): III. Vivace

Markus Becker, piano
NDR Radio Philharmonic Orchestra
Eiji Oue, conductor

Date: 2010
Label: cpo
https://www.jpc.de/jpcng/cpo/detail/-/art/Franz-Schmidt-1874-1939-Klavierkonzert-Es-dur-f%FCr-die-linke-Hand/hnum/6796163

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Review

After tragically losing his right arm in World War I, pianist Paul Wittgenstein sought out works for the left-hand that would save his career. Thanks to his family's considerable wealth, he was able to commission pieces from the major composers of his day, including Richard Strauss, Maurice Ravel, Sergey Prokofiev, Erich Wolfgang Korngold, Paul Hindemith, and Benjamin Britten. Yet of all who wrote concertos and chamber works for him, Wittgenstein preferred Franz Schmidt above all others, and still expressed his admiration for him years later, when the composer was dead and forgotten. The Concertante Variations on a Theme of Beethoven for piano, left-hand, and orchestra is based on a melody taken from the Scherzo of the Violin Sonata No. 5, "Spring." Schmidt deploys every conceivable trick and mood to vary this quirky, syncopated tune, and maintains remarkably clear textures and a light, playful tone throughout. The Concerto in E flat major for piano, left-hand, and orchestra is altogether different in feeling, resembling Schmidt's symphonies in its serious tone and following a course of development that is symphonic in scope. This CPO release by pianist Markus Becker and the NDR Radiophilharmonie, conducted by Eiji Ouè, presents both the Beethoven Variations and the Piano Concerto with expressive playing, coherent interpretation, and terrific sound. The piano and orchestra are well-balanced and carefully separated, so every part is audible, and the soloist is centrally placed and clearly heard, even when the accompaniment is at its thickest. Listeners who enjoy rich, post-Romantic music and collectors of Schmidt's music will find this disc pleasurable and add it to their libraries posthaste.

-- Blair Sanderson, AllMusic

More reviews:
https://www.classicstoday.com/review/review-15590/
http://www.classicalcdreview.com/777338.html
https://www.amazon.com/Franz-Schmidt-Beethoven-Variations-Concerto/dp/B003MPHA0S

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Franz Schmidt (22 December 1874 – 11 February 1939) was an Austrian composer, cellist and pianist. He studied at the Vienna Conservatory with Robert Fuchs, Ferdinand Hellmesberger and Anton Bruckner. Schmidt was also a brilliant pianist. As a composer, Schmidt was slow to develop, but his reputation, at least in Austria, saw a steady growth from the late 1890s until his death in 1939. In his music, Schmidt continued to develop the Viennese classic-romantic traditions he inherited from Schubert, Brahms and his own master, Bruckner.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Schmidt

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Markus Becker (born 1963) is a German pianist. Becker studied with Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and gained additional inspiration with Alfred Brendel. He has been a Professor at the Musikhochschule Hannover since 1993. Following his acclaimed CD debut with the f sharp minor Sonatas of Johannes Brahms and Schumann and further recordings for harmonia mundi and EMI classics, Markus Becker recorded the first complete edition of Max Reger's piano works (Thorofon).

http://www.bach-cantatas.com/Bio/Becker-Markus.htm
http://www.markusbecker-pianist.de/english-the-pianist.html

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