Album
   
Album title
GRIEG Piano Concerto
Performer

Percy Grainger, piano
Kristiansand Symfoniorkester
Rolf Gupta, conductor
Edvard Grieg, piano
Øyvind Bjorå, violin
Rex Lawson, pianolist

Catalogue #
2L-060-SABD
EAN13
7041888514121
ISRC-code
NOMPP0903010-110

Disc 1
Hybrid SACD
MCH 5.1 DSD
Stereo DSD
Disc 2 Pure Audio Blu-ray
DTS HD MA 192kHz/24 bit 5.1
DTS HD MA 96kHz/24 bit 7.1
LPCM 192kHz/24 bit STEREO
Region: ALL - worldwide

Release date
August 2009
Recording date
February 2009
Location
Kristiansand Cathedral, Norway
Original source
DXD (352.8kHz/24bit)
 
GRIEG Piano Concerto

The magic of a "time machine" brings Percy Grainger's original performance back to life in this modern surround-sound recording with the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Rolf Gupta. Edvard Grieg himself bears witness to the validity and authenticity of Grainger's interpretation through his own enthusiastic endorsement: "I had to become sixty-four years old to hear Norwegian piano music interpreted so understandingly and brilliantly. He breaks new ground for himself, for me, and for Norway. And then this enchanting, profound, serious, and childlike naturalness! What a joy to gain a young friend with such qualities!"

In 2007, conductor Rolf Gupta gave the first Norwegian performance of Edvard Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor with the legendary Australian pianist Percy Grainger (1882-1961) as the posthumous soloist. On this recording, the Kristiansand Symphony Orchestra accompanies Grainger's original and controversial interpretation of the concerto. In addition, the violinist Øyvind Bjorå and pianolist Rex Lawson perform Grieg's Violin Sonata in C minor. The recording also includes a handful of Grieg's Lyric Pieces, performed by the composer himself. Astonishingly, these performances have not been available to the public until now.

Two different instruments have facilitated Grainger's and Grieg's encounters with the KSO/Gupta in modern times. Grainger plays on a form of musical time machine, the Duo-Art reproducing piano, which is something like an analogue predecessor of the computer, powered by an electric suction pump, and controlled automatically by perforated rolls of paper. Grieg, on the other hand, has been restored to life by means of a foot-pedalled pianola, played by Rex Lawson. For this recording, both instruments were fitted in front of a Steinway concert grand piano and re-performed the playing of Grainger in 1921 and Grieg in 1906.

iTunes


NEWSLETTERS: Release sheet, August 2009

Further information at www.pianola.org and www.griegpianoconcerto.com


AWARDS:

SoundStage Editor's Choice: Best Audiophile Releases for 2009 (alternative link)

 
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ARTWORK These images can be used in editorial context to the products they are related to, with appropriate credit of artwork and photographer.

e-book Blu-ray box Front inlay Front cover Blu-ray on-screen menu Blu-ray on-screen menu Grieg Piano Concerto - Stage Layout

Kristiansand Cathedral 2009 March Kristiansand Cathedral 2009 March Kristiansand Cathedral 2009 March Kristiansand Cathedral 2009 March Kristiansand Cathedral 2009 March Kristiansand Cathedral 2009 March

Rolf Gupta, conductor Øyvind Bjorå, violin Rex Lawson, pianolist Percy Grainger Edvard Grieg

 

Artwork Morten Lindberg / Front Cover Photo "Brudeferd i Hardanger" (1848) painted by Adolph Tidemand and Hans Gude / Session photos Lindberg Lyd AS / Artist photo Arne Støvset Gjone (Gupta) / Erik Berg (Bjorå) / Jeanette Koch (Lawson) / Percy Grainger estate (Grainger) / O. Væring Eftf. AS (Grieg) / Stage Layout Morten Lindberg