Ferdinand Ries - Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 42 (1811)

Ferdinand Ries (28 November 1784 [baptised] – 13 January 1838) was a German composer. Ries was a friend, pupil and secretary of Ludwig van Beethoven. He composed eight symphonies, a violin concerto, eight piano concertos, three operas, and numerous other works in many genres, including 26 string quartets. In 1838 he published a collection of reminiscences of his teacher Beethoven, co-written with Franz Wegeler. The symphonies, some chamber works —most of them with piano— his violin concerto and his piano concertos have been recorded, demonstrating a style which is, unsurprising due to his connection to Beethoven, somewhere between those of the Classical and early Romantic eras. Piano Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 42 (St. Petersburg, 1811) Dedicated: à Son Altesse Imperiale Rodolphe Archeduc d’Autriche I. Allegro con brio (0:00) II. Larghetto (attacca) (13:17) III. Rondo. Allegro non troppo (Russian Air) (18:20) Christopher Hinterhuber and the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra conducted by Uwe Grodd In January 1811, Ries left for Russia with the goal of an extended concert trip via Kassel, Hamburg, Copenhagen, Stockholm to St. Petersburg. There, he met his old teacher Bernhard Romberg, with whom he played concerts in Western Russia. He composed two piano concertos for this tour, No. 2 in E flat major, op. 42 and No. 3 in C sharp minor, op. 55. However, in the summer of 1812, with Napoleon advancing on Moscow, Ries left Russia to tour across Europe, arriving in London in April 1813.