In Metamorphosen, the despair of Richard Strauss is palpable as he witnesses the devastation around him after the Second World War. Of a much lighter nature is Mozart’s Jeunehomme Piano Concerto.
As a young man, Alban Berg composed his one movement sonata for piano; an introspective work that radiates power and purity. Mozart’s expressive and sparkling piano concerto “Jeunehomme” is virtuosic and full of flair, providing a lighthearted counterweight. Mozart wrote it for the exceptionally talented pianist Victoire Jenamy, “Miss Jeunehomme”. The legendary pianist Brendel called the piece ‘one of the greatest wonders of the world’.
The soloist is the outstanding, blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, who is internationally renowned for his interpretations of Mozart’s piano concertos. Strauss’s Metamorphosen is one of the most compelling musical works of the 20th century. Struck by the devastation caused by the Second World War, Strauss created a profound reflection on loss and destruction, confronting the listener with beauty’s ephemeral nature.