Beethoven: Concerto No.3 & Triple Concerto Martin Helmchen, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin & Andrew Manze

• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770 - 1827): Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor, Op.37:
• 1 Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor, Op.37: I. Allegro con brio 16:52
• 2 Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor, Op.37: II. Largo 08:16
• 3 Piano Concerto No.3 in C Minor, Op.37: III. Rondo. Allegro – Presto 09:26
• Triple Concerto in C Major, Op.56:
• 4 Triple Concerto in C Major, Op.56: I. Allegro 17:28
• 5 Triple Concerto in C Major, Op.56: II. Largo 04:48
• 6 Triple Concerto in C Major, Op.56: III. Rondo alla Polacca 13:10
• Total Runtime 01:10:00

Info for Beethoven: Concerto No.3 & Triple Concerto

German pianist Martin Helmchen continues his journey through Beethoven’s piano concertos with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester and Andrew Manze.

In the Third Concerto, published in 1804, Beethoven seems to be moving away from the Mozartian model and inaugurates his ‘middle period’, using the minor mode to depict a distress and heartache that are certainly not unconnected with the famous ‘Heiligenstadt Testament’, which he wrote in 1802 to record his growing deafness. Martin Helmchen is joined by two partners with whom he performs a great deal of chamber music – violinist Antje Weithaas and cellist Marie-Elisabeth Hecker – to record the Triple Concerto, also written during the composer’s so-called ‘heroic’ period.

"In his not really inspiring complete recording of the Beethoven concertos Martin Helmchen presents a very lively and inspired recording of the Third Piano Concerto. But even more pleasing is the Triple Concerto, with very personal and rhetorical playing by cellist Marie-Elisabeth Hecker and especially by violinist Antje Weithaas. It is a real, very committed conversation that develops between the three soloists, with the orchestra also having an important say. Thus, the cycle, which has sometimes been a little tired so far, is concluded with a really exciting and attractive recording of the Triple Concerto." (pizzicato.lu)

Martin Helmchen, piano
Antje Weithaas, violin
Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, cello
Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin
Andrew Manze, conductor

Martin Helmchen
With his highly virtuosic yet unpretentious style, pianist Martin Helmchen is a rapidly rising star. Born in Berlin in 1982, he has already performed with several of the world’s most prestigious orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic and the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Japan. He will make his U.S. orchestral debut playing the Schumann concerto under Christoph von Dohnányi at Tanglewood in August 2011. Mr. Helmchen has also performed with the Birmingham Symphony, BBC Symphony, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie/Bremen, DSO/Berlin, Frankfurt Radio Orchestra, Giuseppe Verdi Symphony Orchestra/Milan, Netherlands Philharmonic, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo and the Stuttgart Radio Orchestra. Future engagements include the Academy of St. Martin’s in the Fields, Bournemouth Symphony, Cologne Philharmonic, the Hallé Orchestra/Manchester and the London Philharmonia.

An active recording artist, Mr. Helmchen’s debut disc of Mozart concertos with the Netherlands Chamber Philharmonic was released in September 2007 through his exclusive contract with PentaTone. A recording of works by Schubert, his first solo CD, won an ECHO Award in 2009. Other discs for PentaTone include the Mendelssohn concertos, the Schumann and Dvorák concertos, and Schubert’s complete works for violin and piano with Julia Fischer. Mr. Helmchen has a passion for chamber music. Largely ignited by his early collaborations with the late cellist Boris Pergamenschikow, he now performs regularly with Heinrich Schiff and Marie-Elisabeth Hecker. Other partners include Juliane Banse, Julia Fischer, Sharon Kam, Gidon Kremer, Sabine Meyer, Christian Tetzlaff, Lars Vogt and Tabea Zimmermann. Also an enthusiastic recitalist, Mr. Helmchen has performed at prestigious venues throughout Europe and appears regularly at all the major German festivals, as well as Schubertiade, Lockenhaus and Marlboro.

Martin Helmchen studied at Berlin’s Hanns Eisler Conservatory with Galina Iwanzowa and later with Arie Vardie at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater (Hanover) and with William Grant Naboré. His career took off when he won the 2001 Clara Haskil International Piano Competition at the age of 19. Other distinctions include a fellowship from the Borletti-Buitoni Trust in 2005, the Credit Suisse Young Artist Award in 2006 and participation in the BBC New Generation Artist program from 2005-2007.

Booklet for Beethoven: Concerto No.3 & Triple Concerto