Alexander Melnikov, pianoforte 18th century orchestra, Jonathan Darlington by Beethoven, Od (2023/2023), Dirigent Jonathan Darlington, Salle Gaveau, Paris, France

From an early age, Beethoven imposed himself as the "Great Mughal" of music (to use Joseph Haydn's formula), but he only carried out his "expressive revolution" from his Symphony No. 3 "Eroica in 1805. The work sounded like a clap of thunder in the sky of classicism: never before had a symphony offered such dimensions and, above all, such dramatic momentum. Beethoven provoked the same broadening of orchestral and poetic horizons in 1809 with the Piano Concerto No. 5 "The Emperor" , with a colossal keyboard part, at the limits of the sound possibilities of the instruments of the time. The 18th Century Orchestra has largely contributed to dusting off the interpretation of classical masterpieces and the death of its founder, Frans Brüggen, has in no way affected its sonic perfection, especially since Jonathan Darlington is one of the masters from this directory. The pianoforte by Alexander Melnikov, an immense Beethovenian, adds even more to the interest of this concert, the colors of the instrument blending masterfully with those of the orchestra.