David Pia has known ever since his childhood what constitutes a great musical tradition, as his grandfather was the legendary conductor, organist and director of the Munich Bach Choir, Karl Richter. This is why, when selecting pieces for his first album as cello soloist with orchestra, he has not fallen back on the popular concertos by Haydn, Schumann, Saint-Saëns, Dvorák, Prokofiev or Shostakovich, but instead chosen masterpieces from the autumnal years of the fading Romantic era that were once highly regarded and have now been rediscovered. The result is thus neither another mainstream product, nor a contribution to the cabinet of curiosities.
D’Albert’s highly virtuosic concerto of 1899 stands out for its instrumental elegance, enchanting melodies and subtle harmony. Dohnányi’s Concert Piece of 1904, on the other hand, captivates the listener with its poignant passion, climaxes and contrasts, and a tendency towards symphonic monumentality.
