Mozart, W A - Piano Concertos - Ciccolini, Aldo

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Taken from the LPO’s final concerts with the late Aldo Ciccolini (1925–2015), when he was in his mid-eighties, these performances were much praised at the time. Most notably for Ciccolini’s soulful and sensitive interpretation that was ‘illuminated from within and sounded fresh, spontaneous and heartfelt’ (Classical Source, May 2009). Aldo Ciccolini was a musical legend. Through his teachers he inherited the musical influences of Busoni and Liszt, and he was himself a teacher of many world-famous pianists including Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Artur Pizarro and Nicholas Angelich. These live recordings were conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin while he was Principal Guest Conductor (2008–14) and his close relationship with the Orchestra is apparent. Mozart’s Piano Concerto marked a shift in tone towards a new, more mature style for the composer. He helped to redefine the piano concerto as a sophisticated and expressive artform, rather than a form of polite public entertainment. Rachmaninoff poured his heart and soul into his Second Piano Concerto, and with it created one of the most beloved works of all time.