Album insights
Krystian Zimerman, Simon Rattle, and the London Symphony Orchestra unite to present Ludwig van Beethoven's 5 piano concertos. Zimerman, a remarkable Polish pianist, collaborated with Leonard Bernstein over 30 years ago in 1989 to create a phenomenal recording of Beethoven's Piano Concertos Nos. 3, 4, and 5. Their shared passion for music led to an exceptional recording, although Bernstein passed away before completing the cycle. Zimerman, inspired by Bernstein, undertook the direction of Concertos Nos. 1 and 2 from the piano in 1991. The influence of Bernstein on Zimerman was profound, instilling in him the courage to explore new musical ideas in his interpretations—a sentiment similarly felt with conductor Simon Rattle. Returning after three decades, Zimerman, accompanied by Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra, offers a remarkable reinterpretation of Beethoven's Piano Concertos, recorded at LSO St. Luke's in December 2020. This latest release marks a pinnacle in the Beethoven year of 2020, adding another milestone to the catalog of significant Beethoven recordings. Amid the pandemic, capturing all five Beethoven piano concertos felt akin to "chamber music on a grand scale," as Zimerman shared with Apple Music. To explore further details, delve into the Editor's Notes. The album is now available on Apple Music, launching on July 9 as a 3-CD Digipack, a deluxe vinyl box containing five 180g LPs, as well as for download and streaming (including Dolby Atmos).