The Romantic Piano Concerto Vol.49

These two splendid concertos by Stenhammar are offered together on one CD for the first time. The original orchestration of Stenhammar's first concerto was long thought to be lost when the offices of the publisher were bombed during the second world war. However, in 1983 a copy of the original was found in the Library of Congress and this version is featured here. The twenty-two year old's opus one is a masterpiece. Majestic and virtuosic at its opening, the work explores a world of Nordic mystery in the third movement and ends with music of sad, reflective sweetness. The second concerto is a distinctly different work, with a novel structure and a steady tension between soloist and orchestra that is only resolved in the virtuosic finale. Andrew Manze makes his Hyperion debut directly the Helsingborg Symphony Orchestra. Pianist Seta Tanyel has been featured on previous Romantic Piano Concerto recordings, always gaining the highest critical acclaim.