Salieri: Piano Concertos

Accademia d'Archi Arrigoni, Arnofi, Giulio, Catena, Costantino

97268

Antonio Salieri (1750–1825) was an Italian composer and conductor, famous in his time for his operas and sacred music, but less known today for his instrumental works. His reputation has been clouded by rumors of rivalry with Mozart, which modern scholarship largely discredits. Salieri was a highly respected court composer in Vienna, and while he was primarily recognized for his vocal music, he also composed several instrumental pieces, including piano concertos.

Salieri’s piano concertos, though not as numerous or as widely celebrated as those by contemporaries like Mozart, offer insight into the classical style of the late 18th century. His Piano Concerto in B-flat major, composed in the 1770s, is one of his few surviving works for keyboard and orchestra. It reflects the elegance and balance typical of the Classical era, with clear melodic lines and a restrained yet expressive use of harmony.

Unlike Mozart’s more virtuosic concertos, Salieri’s piano concertos focus on lyrical expression rather than technical display. His concertos often feature a dialogue between the soloist and orchestra, emphasizing melodic beauty over complexity.

Played by Italian pianist Costantino Catena with the Accademia D’Archi Arrigoni, conducted by Giulio Arnolfi. In Luca Ciammarughi’s book on pianists Catena is credited with ‘combining virtuoso chiselling with a cantabile of absolute sonorous beauty.”

Works:

•Antonio Salieri: Concerto in C Major
• Antonio Salieri: Sinfonia Veneziana in D Major
• Antonio Salieri: Concerto in B-Flat Major
• Antonio Salieri: Sonata in C Major

CD

3.02.2025

5028421972688