ALFRED SCHNITTKE (1934-1998): Piano Concerto (world premiere recording), Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra, Concerto for Piano Four-Hands and Chamber Orchestra.

Description: In June of last year, we offered as our featured item a 1956-57 symphony which Schnittke had written while at conservatory, a mixture of late Romantic Myaskovsky and Sym. No. 10 era Shostakovich. Here is another such youthful work. The piano concerto dates from 1960, was never performed again until five days after this recording was made in 2005, and is sort of a "Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2 and-a-half" with bits of Prokofiev and Bartók audible as well. A full-scale work of three movements and over 27 minutes, it's a new example of Schnittke for collectors who don't like mature Schnittke! Ewa Kupiec (piano), Maria Letterberg (four-hands), Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra; Frank Strobel. SACD hybrid.