Beethoven: Bagatelles Op. 126, Piano Concerto No. 1

1	Bagatelles for Piano, Op.
2	Bagatelles for Piano, Op.
3	Bagatelles for Piano, Op.
4	Bagatelles for Piano, Op.
5	Bagatelles for Piano, Op.
6	Bagatelles for Piano, Op.
7	Concerto for Piano no 1 i
8	Concerto for Piano no 1 i
9	Concerto for Piano no 1 i
Beethoven: Bagatelles Op. 126, Piano Concerto No. 1
1.	Bagatelles (6) for piano, Op. 126 20:45
	Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
	Performed by Piotr Anderszewski
2.	Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 37:51
	Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
	Performed by Piotr Anderszewski and German Chamber Philharmonic, Bremen
	Conducted by Piotr Anderszewski

All Music Guide

After making his recording debut with the "Diabelli Variations" in 2000, young Polish pianist Piotr Anderszewski continued to show an affinity for Beethoven. He briefly returned to the German master's music in a 2004 disc coupling Webern's "Variations" and Bach's "English Suite in D minor, BWV 811," with Beethoven's "A flat major Sonata, Op. 110." But this 2008 disc is Anderszewski's first full-fledged return to Beethoven, and it includes his first shot at one of his concertos. In this ingeniously juxtaposed program, Anderszewski opens with Beethoven's last published work for solo piano, the six "Bagatelles, Op. 126," and closes with his first published work for piano and orchestra, the "Concerto No. 1 in C major." In the bagatelles, Anderszewski proves as impressive as he had in the "Diabelli Variations." His technique is muscular but nuanced, his tone big but subtle, and his temper witty but tender -- all qualities that work brilliantly in these quirky but endearing pieces. In the concerto, Anderszewski shows another side of himself, and while his technique and tone are essentially unaltered, his temper is much mellower and his interpretations more exuberant. This change entirely suits the concerto, a polished piece of writing by the young Beethoven in his best high classical mode. As he had in his earlier pairs of recordings of Mozart's piano concertos, Anderszewski directs from the keyboard, and as before, it works out wonderfully well with the players of Deutschen Kammerphilharmonie Bremen engaging the piano player as the first among equals. The sound is slightly distant, but very atmospheric. James Leonard

The Guardian

Piotr Anderszewski's unusual pairing of early and late Beethoven is presented with all the clarity and rhythmic variety that are the outstanding qualities of his playing. Andrew Clements

Daily Telegraph

In Beethoven's C major Concerto, his superfine control of colour, rhythm and nuance, his command of the larger as well as the smaller shapes of the music, are as breathtaking as ever. Richard Wigmore