Dutton Epoch's first recording with Royal Northern Sinfonia features pianist Victor Sangiorgio, brilliant in two romantic concertos of the mid-nineteenth century but given a modern twist: Martin Yates' realisation of the surviving fragments of Mendelssohn's unfinished Piano Concerto in E and Balakirev's very Russian orchestration of Chopin's Piano Concerto no.1. With this realisation of the Mendelssohn Piano Concerto, Martin Yates has produced another compelling performing edition that stands alongside other similar projects for Dutton Epoch such as his realisation of E. J. Moeran's Sketches for Symphony no.2. Balakirev scored Chopin's Concerto at the very end of his life. He viewed it as a Grand Concerto, and with its use of modern brass and the cor anglais, he brings a Russian flavour to Chopin's sound-world that has to be heard.

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Felix Mendelssohn

Heimkehr aus der Fremde (1829) (Son and Stranger)
Overture op.89: Andante Allegro di molto Andante come primo

Concerto in E for piano and orchestra (1842)* VS
Realised and completed by Martin Yates (2013)
i Allegro molto vivace
ii Andante
iii Finale: Andante Allegro vivace Presto

Frédéric Chopin
Grand Concerto (1830) (Piano Concerto no.1 in E minor op.11) VS
Orchestrated by Mily Alekseyevich Balakirev (1910)
i Allegro maestoso
ii Romanza: Larghetto
iii Rondo: Vivace

* World Premiere Recording
First Digital Recording

Martin Yates (conductor)
Royal Northern Sinfonia
VS Victor Sangiorgio (piano)

Recorded: Hall One, Sage Gateshead, Gateshead, 15-16 January 2014

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Hybrid Disc. This SACD is compatible with all CD players.

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“The Overture is unmistakably Mendelssohn … it is, ipso facto, quite delightful.” Jeremy Nicolas, Gramophone, June 2015

“… an out-of-the-ordinary recording … brings together some Mendelssohn rarities with Balakirev’s reimagining of the Chopin Piano Concerto.” “This sample is utterly enchanting, and the RNS under Martin Yates responds withatmospheric and affectionate playing.” Jessica Duchen, BBC Music Magazine