Polish pianist
Piotr Anderszewski first came to international attention in 1995 with his Philips' recording with violinist
Viktoria Mullova of violin sonatas by
Janácek,
Debussy, and
Prokofiev. The combination of
Mullova's fire and passion with
Anderszewski light and power was incandescent, and their 1997 follow-up disc of
Brahms' violin sonatas blazed just as radiantly.
Anderszewski made his solo recording debut in 2000 on Virgin with a masterful performance of
Beethoven's "Diabelli" Variations and followed that in 2002 with a terrific disc of
Mozart's Piano Concertos No. 21 and No. 24. After impressive discs devoted to
Bach and
Chopin and a stunning recital coupling
Bach,
Beethoven, and Webern,
Anderszewski returned to
Mozart in 2006 with this disc of his Piano Concertos No. 17 and No. 20. As before,
Anderszewski is not only playing but directing the orchestra, albeit here the orchestra is not the somewhat slack
Sinfonia Varsovia, but the always refined
Scottish Chamber Orchestra. As before,
Anderszewski's performances are terrific. In the Concerto No. 20 in D minor, his playing is hot-blooded but subtle, powerfully expressive but objective, thrillingly virtuosic but completely controlled. In the Concerto No. 17 in G major, his playing is highly polished but intense, lightly witty but deep, elegantly beautiful but thoroughly thought-through. As always,
Anderszewski's tone is nuanced and his technique is invincible. Virgin's sound is full and rich.