Beethoven [2023]

by Alice Sara Ott

Overview

Pianist Alice Sara Ott gained new exposure when she was featured in the launch video for a new classical app in 2023, performing one of the works on this album, Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15. That may have helped this recording land on classical best-seller charts in the summer of 2023. It is good that the video drew attention to Ott, for she is a rather unorthodox player whose performances are likely to grow on listeners. This is her second album simply titled Beethoven; the first appeared on the Deutsche Grammophon label in 2010 and has much in common with the present release, although this one contains a piano concerto to go with the solo piano works. Ott's approach is delicate and detailed, almost radically restrained. Those who hear only romantic and revolutionary tumult in Beethoven will not be impressed, but even they should pay close attention to what Ott is doing. Sample the finale of the Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2 ("Moonlight"), where one thinks that she will finally cut loose. She does not, but hear all the internal detail she brings out in Beethoven's furious arpeggios. This is really unlike any other recording of this well-trodden work, and that is saying a lot. The Piano Concerto No. 1 is graceful and precise. Moreover, Ott finds wonderful things in some short piano pieces, even the chestnut Fuer Elise. Most astonishing is the Allegretto in B minor, WoO 61, a bona fide late Beethoven work that is almost never played, and an essay in mode mixture that requires an extremely light touch. This Ott supplies. A wonderful, if unorthodox, Beethoven recital. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2023
Label:	Deutsche Grammophon
UPC:	0028948648986
Rank:	72488

Tracks

1. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in C major, Op. 15~1. Allegro con brio
2. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in C major, Op. 15~2. Largo
3. Concerto for Piano and Orchestra No. 1 in C major, Op. 15~3. Rondo. Allegro
4. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor "Moonlight", Op. 27/2~1. Adagio sostenuto
5. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor "Moonlight", Op. 27/2~2. Allegretto
6. Piano Sonata No. 14 in C sharp minor "Moonlight", Op. 27/2~3. Presto agitato
7. Bagatelle in A minor "Für Elise", WoO 59
8. Bagatelle in G minor, Op. 119/1
9. Piano Piece in C major / C minor "Lustig - Traurig", WoO 54
10. Piano Piece in B minor, WoO 61

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Alice Sara Ott   Primary Artist,Piano
Karina Canellakis   Conductor
Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra   Orchestra
Netherlands Radio Orchestra   Orchestra

Technical Credits

Christopher Tarnow   Mixing,Mastering,Recording Producer,Editing,Engineer
Malene Hill   A&R
Katrin Bahrmann   Design
Leonie Petersen   Product Manager
John Moraitis   Liner Note Translation
Dorothea Schlegel   Publishing,Score Supervisor
Wirre de Vries   Assistant Engineer
Rachel-Mariah Rau   Project Coordinator
Andrew White   Cover Photo,Photography
Ludwig van Beethoven   Composer
Oliver Kreyssig   Musical Production Manager
Angelika Meissner   Executive Producer
Everett Porter   Mixing,Editing,Engineer,Mastering,Recording Producer
Martin Jerabek   Piano Technician
Eva Reisinger   Booklet Editor
Taco Van Der Werf   Assistant Engineer