Piano Concerto/Concerto Pour Piano
Leaf, 2020
8/10
Listen Piano Concerto/Concerto Pour Piano
A project composed by the always impressive Jaap Nico Hamburger and performed by pianist Assaff Weisman and l’Orchestre Metropolitain de Montreal under the direction of Vincent de Kort, in 22 minutes the ensemble cover a lot of ground in a classically influenced setting.
“Adagio” starts the quick listen with soft, soothing ambience that erupts into cinematic swells of brass and strings in a highly dextrous environment, and “Molto allegro” follows with swift piano acrobatics as flashes of dynamic urgency unfold with a dynamic quality that parallels the soundtrack of an action flick, complete with sirens.
“Molto adagio” finishes the listen, where stirring strings and lulls of atmosphere are later met with firm, nearly jarring, keys as the setting gets a bit haunting in its very precise, deliberate execution.
Hamburger’s compositions certainly takes nods to names like Mahler, Feinberg and Prokofiev, but of course at this point his work resides in a league all its own, as Weisman, the orchestra and de Kort certainly do justice to his vision on this varied and unpredictable effort.
Travels well with: Orli Shaham-Mozart Complete Piano Sonatas; Beth Levin- Hammerklavier Live