Challenge Classics' pivotal pianist Nino Gvetadze confronts two Beethoven's grand concertos. The famous no 4, opus 58, is coupled with Beethoven's contemporary transcription for piano of the violin concerto op 61.

The album "Aufgelebt" is all about revival, rebirth and recreation, the promise of new beginnings. Beethoven worked on his Piano Concerto No. 4 and the Op. 61a (piano version of a violin concerto) in the same period of his life. Both concertos were neglected and would have been forgotten had it not been for the attention of Felix Mendelssohn, who revived the Fourth Piano Concerto in 1836 and conducted the violin concerto, in 1844. Since then, these two concertos have been considered to be masterpieces of classical music literature. The Violin Concerto had yet another chance of rebirth long before young Joachim's success. After attending the premier of the piece, Muzio Clementi asked Beethoven to transcribe the work for piano and orchestra. His wish was promptly fulfilled by the composer, who at the same time enriched the Concerto with authentic cadenzas, of which the first - in the First Movement - is very special as the piano is accompanied by timpani!

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

"I was especially not expecting a Schumann album that so immediately goes to the top of my future recommendation list." - CC72855, Fanfare (USA)

"Nino Gvetadze gives a memorable and perfectly executed account of these diverse pieces. CC 72768 (Chopin), Scherzo (SP): Chopin, in the hands of Gvetadze, is almost a prayer to universal beauty." - CC72819 Musicweb (UK)