Ten years ago, driven by his ambition to record all of Beethoven’s piano sonatas, Jonathan Biss embarked on a project to commission original compositions that would complement each of the composer’s five piano concertos. His collaboration with the Swedish Radio Symphony orchestra has now reached its penultimate installment with the release of Concerto No. 4,alongside Salvatore Sciarrino’s 15-minute piece titled Il sogno di Stradella, conducted by Omer Meir Wellber.
Biss approaches the concerto with a relaxed tempo; while he injects energy when Beethoven calls for it, this liveliness is not a constant presence throughout the performance—resulting in an occasionally episodic feel to the overall flow. However, the tension during pivotal moments between the assertive orchestra and serene piano is strikingly effective, culminating in a finale that feels warm without being overly playful—striking a perfect balance.
The reference to Stradella in Sciarrino’s title points to a free-spirited composer from the seventeenth century who narrowly escaped death at one nobleman’s hands only to meet his end at another’s treachery.The piece begins with piano notes mimicking footsteps that lead into a waltz-like melody—a blend of baroque church influences intertwined with mid-twentieth-century Parisian vibes—all underscored by string harmonics reminiscent of radio static interference. Even though Biss struggles to draw direct connections between this work and Beethoven’s legacy, as an atmospheric vignette it stands strong on its own merits.
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