Makoto Ozone, Sinfonia Varsovia, Alexandre Rabinovitch-Barakovsky, Tadaaki Otaka
Description
The art of improvisation is as old as music itself. Wherever a composer has left some freedom for performers, frequently even marking a place in a work for improvisation, performers have eagerly seized on the opportunity to give free rein to their fantasy and fulfil the will of the composer - and at times compete with him. Beethoven's Concerto in B flat major has carved out a special place in the performance tradition of the 'Chopin and his Europe' festival. In 2010 it was given an unprecedented rendition: this three-movement work was played by two pianists: Maria Joao Pires performed the first movement, and Martha Argerich the second and third--both on a period instrument, with Frans Bruggen's Orchestra of the 18th Century. Over subsequent years, we have been treated to interpretations of this work from such artists as Kristian Bezuidenhout and ... Makoto Ozone.
The cadenza of Mozart's Piano Concerto in E flat major, K. 271 is a paradise for performers' inventiveness and imagination, and as long as they proceed with a natural sense of good taste, the listener with an orthodox attitude to Mozart will forgive them a great deal--even when they veer into stylistic regions far from Viennese classicism. Makoto Ozone decided to inscribe this work with a few of his own comments and remarks and his reading is interesting, subtle and witty - at times quite refined. He is also an excellent pianist, who can wow an audience with his performance of both classical and jazz repertoire. The latter, of course, is his element.
This CD presents Makoto Ozone's performances at 'Chopin and his Europe' from 2006 and 2007.
Tracklisting
Cyprien Katsaris
Mateusz Kowalski; Lorenzo Coppola; {oh!} Orkiestra; Martyna Pastuszka
Vadym Kholodenko
Ewa Poblocka
Maria Joao Pires
Halina Czerny-Stefanska
Ewa Poblocka
Eric Guo, Oh! Orchestra, Vaclav Luks
Rebecca Vasmant
ARQ
Oscar Jerome
Vince Guaraldi
David Fathead Newman * Ellis Marsalis * Cornell Dupree
Paul Taylor
Brian Simpson
Ricotti & Albuquerque
