Piano Concertos from the Netherlands

An unrivalled collection of lesser-known 20th-century piano concertos in both Romantic and modern styles, in definitive recordings by Dutch artists.
This survey of Dutch piano concertos actually begins in 1886, with the A minor work by Carl Smulders (1863-1934). Smulders sidesteps convention by opening not with a grand gesture but a slow, expectant build-up, breaking the template for A minor piano concertos established first by Schumann and then Grieg. The piano writing itself has a lyrically Griegian flavour, however, which Ivo Janssen brings out in this 1994 recording.
The collection steps confidently into the last century with a glittering 13-minute concerto of 1927 by Willem Pijper, and a punchy neoclassical concertino from 1928 by Henriette Bösmans, who brings sumptuous, Rachmaninoff-style lyricism to the contrasting episodes. The shadows of Bartók and Ravel continue to fall on Kees van Baaren’s 1934 Concertino, and Leo Smit’s 1937 concerto for piano and wind ensemble.
Another chronological leap forward takes the collection to 1964, with a second concerto by Van Baaren, who by now had adopted an angular serial idiom in tune with the times. From the same year, Henk Badings’ Concerto for Two Pianos casts a retrospective look at the age of expressionist film scores in a dark and turbulent but conventionally structured work.
Coming further up to date, the collection embraces the personal engagements with both modernism and the concerto tradition crafted by Tristan Keuris in 1980, and Ton de Leeuw in 1990. Finally, the 1991 concerto by Jan van Vlijmen encapsulates the musical journey of the 20th century into modernism and then towards an accommodation of its principles with tonality. Like several other composers in this set, the name of Van Vlijmen deserves to be known far wider than his native Netherlands, and this superbly prepared recording presents the most compelling case for his music.
Long unavailable since its original 1994 release on the specialist NM Classics label, this reissue by Brilliant Classics includes full booklet introductions to each composer and their work.

- “Piano concertos by 20th-century Dutch composers” reflect the dynamic evolution of classical music during this period, marked by a blend of modernism, neoclassicism, and unique national character.
- This 3 CD set offers a comprehensive collection of Piano Concertos written by 20-th century Dutch composers: Henriëtte Bosmans (1895-1952), Kees van Baaren (1906-1970), Ton de Leeuw (1926-1996), Leo Smit (1900-1943), Carl Smulders (1863–1934), Willem Pijpers (1894-1947), Henk Badings (1907-1987), Tristan Keuris (1946-1996) and Jan van Vlijmen (1935–2004).
- Stylistically ranging from the Late-Romantic to the experimental and jazz, these concertos offer a testimony of the rich cultural life of the Netherlands.
- Played by top Dutch pianists: Ronald Brautigam, David Kuyken, Ivo Janssen, Sepp Grotenhuis, Ellen Corver and René Eckhardt. The Netherlands Radio Symphony Orchestra and Radio Philharmonic Orchestra are conducted by Lucas Vis, Jac van Steen, Ed Spanjaard, Kees Bakels and Alexander Vedernikov.
- Licensed from the rich catalogue of NM Classics, the label for music from The Netherlands.