| 1 CD |
€ 19.95
|
Preorder |
| Label Challenge Classics |
UPC 0608917200737 |
Catalogue number CC 720073 |
Release date 30 October 2026 |
Two remarkable yet rarely heard masterpieces of the late Romantic piano concerto repertoire come together in this compelling recording by acclaimed pianist Severin von Eckardstein, the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra, and conductor Łukasz Borowicz. Franz Xaver Scharwenka’s dazzling Third Piano Concerto radiates brilliance, lyrical warmth and virtuoso flair, while Nicolai Medtner’s deeply personal Third Piano Concerto unfolds as an epic musical journey, rich in mystery, melancholy and spiritual depth. Together, these works reveal two strikingly different visions of Romantic expression - one outwardly brilliant, the other profoundly introspective.
For von Eckardstein, Medtner’s Third Concerto represents the summit of the composer’s creative life: a work that rewards every new listening with fresh discoveries and emotional depth. Paired with Scharwenka’s exuberant, richly coloured concerto, this recording offers a fascinating dialogue between two overlooked masters of the Romantic tradition. Performed by one of Poland’s finest orchestras under one of today’s leading advocates of Central European repertoire, this album shines new light on two extraordinary concertos that deserve a place alongside the great classics.
Severin von Eckardstein, one of the leading German pianists of his generation, has an already lengthy record of solo concerts and concerto performances on major stages around the world.
He has performed with orchestras such as Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, NHK Orchestra or the Mariinsky Orchestra, and conductors such as Paavo Järvi, Jaap Van Zweeden, Philippe Herreweghe, Marek Janowski and Valery Gergiev.
As a frequent guest of the concert series “Meesterpianisten” at Concertgebouw Amsterdam, von Eckardstein opened the gala concert celebrating the series’ 25th anniversary in 2012. In 2020 he was reinvited to this extraordinary series for the 8th time. He appears regularly at the Berliner Klavierfestival, Germany.
Born in Duesseldorf, Germany, in 1978, the pianist won prizes at numerous noteworthy international competitions, e.g the “Leeds International Piano Competition” (2000), the ARD-Competition in Munich (1999) and was awarded first prize at the “Concours Reine Elisabeth” in Brussels (2003).
Von Eckardstein’s education in the musical arts was predominately shaped by his teachers Prof. Barbara Szczepanska, Prof. Karl-Heinz Kämmerling and Prof. Klaus Hellwig, University of Arts, Berlin. In an additional course of study at the International Piano Academy Lake Como, Italy, he profited from further instruction and inspiration. He regularly gives masterclasses, for example in Finland and South Korea. After three years as a professor at the Cologne University of Music, he accepted a professorship at the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts in 2026.
Chamber music also plays a significant role in his repertoire with performances at festivals such as the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival, Finland, Delft Chamber Music Festival, Netherlands, and the Risør Chamber Music Festival, Norway, where he appeared with cellist Heinrich Schiff. His partners are for example the Schumann Quartet, Sophia Jaffé, isabelle van Keulen, Isang Enders and Nicolas Altstaedt. In 2015 he founded the chamber concert series “Klangbrücken” at Konzerthaus Berlin together with violinist Franziska Hölscher.
CD recordings with compositions by Medtner, Scriabin, Wagner, Schubert, Schumann, Debussy and others are highly regarded. His recording of Dupont´s cycle “La maison dans les dunes” was awarded with “Diapason d´Or”. Piano Concertos by Medtner and Scharwenka with the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra will be released in 2026.
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