Franz Liszt, Concerto in E-Flat Major
and Frederc Chopin, Concerto in E Minor
Yundi Li
Philharmonia Orchestra
Andrew Davis, conducting
Review by: Robert Zierolf

Yundi Li won the International Chopin Competition as a teenager and has recorded several solo works by Chopin and Liszt for DG to at least modest acclaim. This is his first recorded venture with their concertos, a natural repertoire progression, so expectation is for something special. Unfortunately, it's not, either for recording or performance. Lack of secure tempi (hard to say whether Li is at fault, but he probably is) and inattentive balance between soloist and orchestra as well as careless microphone placement or mixing all contribute to a disappointing rendition. It's actually a puzzle why this one was released given the usual excellence of DG and accompanying musicians and conductor. Li is young enough and talented enough to recover, and of course he's inevitably compared to many recordings of these standard repertoire concertos.

Performance:
Sound Quality:

Robert Zierolf is Professor of Music Theory and History and Division head of Composition, Musicology, and Theory at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati. He is also a freelance writer on classical music.