The Romantic Piano Concerto, Vol. 28 – Stojowski: Piano Concertos – Jonathan Plowright, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Martyn Brabbins Hyperion

Piano Concerto No 1 in F sharp minor Op 3[34’56]1
Andante poco mosso – Allegro un poco maestoso[14’55]2
Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile[9’39]Rudi De Groote (cello), Mary James (oboe)
3
Allegro con fuoco – Presto – Più presto[10’22]Piano Concerto No 2 in A flat major ‘Prologue, Scherzo and Variations’ Op 32[32’52]4
Part 1: Prologue: Andante con moto[7’36]5
Part 2: Scherzo: Presto[5’02]6
Part 3a: Tema. Maestoso e moderato molto[1’03]7
Part 3b: Variation I. Molto sostenuto[1’21]8
Part 3c: Variation II. Con espressione poco rubato[1’07]9
Part 3d: Variation III. Più mosso[1’14]10
Part 3e: Variation IV. Allegretto[0’54]11
Part 3f: Variation V. Molto vivace[0’28]12
Part 3g: Variation VI. Con fuoco, agitato[1’05]13
Part 3h: Variation VII. Con moto, energico[1’25]14
Part 3i: Variation VIII. Andante sostenuto[1’04]15
Part 3j: Variation IX. Andantino ben moderato[2’18]16
Part 3k: Variation X. Finale. Allegro molto[8’15]

Now these really are romantic piano concertos!

Stojowski was born and brought up in Poland though he later lived in Paris and finally became an American citizen. He was both virtuoso pianist and serious composer (he wrote a symphony and violin concerto as well as music for his own instrument) and his initial career was full of promise. Unfortunately for his later reputation his style was that of a previous generation and in the 20th century his music was viewed as increasingly dated. One hundred years later this hardly matters and on this CD we find works steeped in the language of Tchaikovsky and Grieg, perhaps with a hint of Saint-Saëns and the almost sentimental lyricism of Paderewski (ten years Stojowski’s senior, Paderewski was both teacher and friend to the younger composer, the second concerto was dedicated to, and played by him).

We are delighted to welcome Jonathan Plowright to Hyperion. He valiantly tackles the huge virtuoso demands Stojowski makes of the soloist, particularly in the first concerto.The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra are playing better than ever and they are kept fully occupied in the rich and colourful scoring of both works.