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Music

A new Chopin (2)

April 23, 2019

Producing great music: two Chopin piano concertos are meticulously rearranged by Mikhail Pletnev and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra with the young Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov on the grand piano.

https://p.dw.com/p/2rQjh

Dortmund, spring, 2017. Pianist Daniil Trifonov teamed up with the Mahler Chamber Orchestra to record the two Chopin piano concertos in E and F minor. Taking the podium was conductor Mikhail Pletnev, whose new orchestral arrangement was recorded here for the first time.

Dortmund's concert hall served as the sound studio for the recording. Trifonov, Pletnev and the other musicians worked on the pieces intensively for two days. The end-result was a complete live recording of a concert for a sell-out crowd. The audience was delighted with Mikhail Pletnev's meticulous interpretation, adaptation of the score and considerable enhancement of the orchestra's role. Young Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov excelled on the grand piano.

Director Christian Berger chronicled the rehearsals and final acclaimed performance in the Dortmund concert hall. In fascinating documentary shots, he captured the musicians' painstaking work on the many details, which in the end produced such great music. Daniil Trifonov also gave an interview in his New York City apartment, including glimpses of his very personal musical universe. This is part of an Arts.21 special.