Description
English pianist Sarah Beth Briggs, together with Kenneth Woods conducting the Royal Northern Sinfonia, offers the world premiere recording of Hans Gál's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra alongside Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22 in E-flat, K. 482.
Bringing to light another of Hans Gál's gorgeously melodic and finely crafted scores, AVIE presents the world premiere recording of the Austrian émigré's Concerto for Piano and Orchestra with English pianist Sarah Beth Briggs supported by Gál aficionado Kenneth Woods conducting the Royal Northern Sinfonia. Written in 1948, Gál's large-scale romantic concerto abounds with sweeping phrases and pyrotechnics, yet at the heart of the piece lies the composer's signature clarity and precision, making the work an ideal coupling for his 18th century Viennese compatriot Mozart's great E-flat major concerto of 1785.
Personnel: Sarah Beth Briggs (piano), Royal Northern Sinfonia, Kenneth Woods (conductor 1-3), Bradley Creswick (co-director 4-6)
Critical acclaim for Sarah Beth Briggs and Hans Gál:
"An artist of extraordinary magnetism." - The Daily Telegraph
"Hats off to conductor Kenneth Woods [for] making a case for Gál's elegantly built orchestral pieces...Here's hoping this is the beginning of a substantial Gál revival." - National Public Radio's All Things Considered