Search - Mendelssohn, Edelmann, Flor :: Piano Concerti 1 & 2

Superbly Musical Mendelssohn Performances

T. Beers | Arlington, Virginia United States | 11/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Rudolf Serkin's classic late 1950s CBS recordings of the two Mendelssohn piano concertos (with Eugene Ormandy and the Philadelphia Orchestra, still available on a Sony CD) brilliantly defined one way to perform this music: super-charged and assertively dramatic, with incredibly fast tempos brilliantly sustained by Serkin throughout. Edelmann, Flor, and the Bambergers take a very different approach which I, frankly, find more convincing. Although fleet and articulate, these performances are ever so much more relaxed, allowing the performers to explore the marvelous textures Mendelssohn creates when pitting piano against orchestra. Edelmann's piano tone is stunningly beautiful, full of expressive nuance and color, and capable of projecting an astonishing range of pianissimo. Flor and the Bamberg orchestra provide a perfect parnership, eschewing empty flash in favor of a chamber music-like interaction that still manages to be plenty dramatic. This CD is out of print as a single (altho there appears to be a large number of used copies available from Amazon), but it is still officially available as part of Mendelssohn's collected symphonies, overtures, etc., in a bargain-priced BMG box set, all conducted by Claus Peter Flor. Mendelssohn-Bartholdy: Symphonies; Overtures; Concertos Sound quality is beautifully warm, but nicely transparent; perfect for Mendelssohn's thoroughly lovely music."