‘Zeroing in on Beethoven’ might be a fitting name for the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester’s large-scale project featuring all five of Beethoven’s piano concertos. This unique pianistic universe was approached step by step over the entire season 2016/17, so to speak as a journey of discovery.

With support of Gübelin Jewellery and the Walter B. Kielholz Foundation.

Beethoven’s piano concertos originated over a period of some 20 years. The first, published as Concerto no. 2 in B-flat major (op. 19), antedates the year 1790 in its earliest sketches. The second, published as Concerto no. 1 in C major (op. 15), was completed in 1800; the third was premièred in 1803, and the fourth in 1807. All these premières took place in Vienna, and always with Beethoven at the piano. The fifth, in contrast, received its first hearing in Leipzig in 1811, with Friedrich Schneider as the soloist, for Beethoven‘s increasing deafness prevented him from appearing in public.

Documentary

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• Luzerner Sinfonieorchester
• James Gaffigan, chief conductor
• Oliver Schnyder, piano

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)

CD 1
Concerto No. 1 in C major for Piano and Orchestra, op. 15
Concerto No. 3 in C minor for Piano and Orchestra, op. 37

CD 2
Overture «Coriolan» in C minor, op. 62
Concerto No. 4 in G major for Piano and Orchestra, op. 58
Overture «Leonore No. 1» in C major, op. 138
Overture «Fidelio» in E major, op. 72

CD 3
Overture «Egmont», in f minor, op. 84
Concerto No. 2 in B-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, op. 19
Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major for Piano and Orchestra, «Emperor», op. 73

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