Poster A pianist, violinist and cellist pose in front of a piano
Although they had never worked before, Benjamin Grosvenor, Nicola Benedetti and Sheku Kanneh-Mason knew each other personally before collaborating on Beethoven's Triple Concerto.
Provided
New Classical Tracks®

Benedetti, Grosvenor and Kanneh-Mason join forces for Beethoven's Triple Concerto

New Classical Tracks (extended interview): Benedetti, Grosvenor and Kanneh-Mason
DOWNLOAD
00:00
0
New Classical Tracks - Benedetti, Grosvenor and Kanneh-Mason
New Classical Tracks - June 12, 2024

Nicola Benedetti, Benjamin Grosvenor and Sheku Kanneh-Mason — Beethoven: Triple Concerto; with the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Santtu-Matias Rouvali (Decca)

In June 2023, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor, cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and violinist Nicola Benedetti gathered in London for a performance at the Royal Festival Hall. They capitalized on this rare opportunity and made their first recording together with the Philharmonia Orchestra and its principal conductor, Santtu-Matias Rouvali.

This new release features Ludwig van Beethoven’s rarely heard Scottish and Welsh folk songs, with baritone Gerald Finely, and a thrilling performance of the composer’s Triple Concerto.

What was this experience like for each of you?

Grosvenor: “This piece is really a piano trio with orchestra. It has such an element of chamber music to it. And when you play chamber music with other musicians, it can be a great joy, but you really have to click. And knowing each other personally but not having played together, I suppose we had our doubts as to whether that would be the case. And in the first rehearsal that was all immediately relieved. From the beginning, it just worked really wonderfully well.”

Benedetti: “It's a really challenging piece of music that requires a high level of awareness from everyone and only really starts to become fun and spontaneous when you have that from everyone involved. I learned so much from playing with both of these musicians, you know, and sometimes it was spoken and sometimes it was just in listening to their playing and kind of feeling out what it was that they wanted to do.”

What is a section of this concerto that you love or are excited about whenever you play it?

Benedetti: “I would have to choose the coda because it's so fast-paced, and you've actually already had a lot of material in that last movement. There's been a lot going along, a lot of different types of textures and rhythms and interactions between the instruments. So you're not necessarily waiting for something more to happen. And then when it does, it's so inventive and so fun and unexpected.”

Grosvenor: “It's the whole of the slow movement. It's hard to pick an exact spot because on one hand, you have to take his wonderful solo at the beginning that [Benedetti] plays with such exquisite tenderness. And then after a little piano interlude, you have this amazing duet between the two of them that plays with such sensitivity and that's the movement where my role is mostly to just battle triplets in the background. But it's a real joy to listen to.”

Kanneh-Mason: “I love the second subject of the first movement, and particularly, any theme that is accompanied by triplets. It gives you such a feeling of floating on, [of] something a bit more liquid.”

Resources

Nicola Benedetti, violin/Benjamin Grosvenor, piano/Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello – Beethoven: Triple Concerto; with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Santtu-Matias Rouvali (Decca)

Nicola Benedetti, violin/Benjamin Grosvenor, piano/Sheku Kanneh-Mason, cello – Beethoven: Triple Concerto; with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Santtu-Matias Rouvali (Amazon)

Benjamin Grosvenor, piano (official site)

Love the music?

Donate by phone
1-800-562-8440

Show your support by making a gift to YourClassical.

Each day, we’re here for you with thoughtful streams that set the tone for your day – not to mention the stories and programs that inspire you to new discovery and help you explore the music you love.

YourClassical is available for free, because we are listener-supported public media. Take a moment to make your gift today.

More Ways to Give

Your Donation

$5/month
$10/month
$15/month
$20/month
$

Latest New Classical Tracks® Episodes

VIEW ALL EPISODES

Latest New Classical Tracks® Episodes

Composer Tina Davidson embraces vulnerability on new recording
30:42
Gao Hong and Ignacio Lusardi Monteverde improvise together on their new album
30:26
Isata Kanneh-Mason explores the music of the Mendelssohn siblings

Isata Kanneh-Mason explores the music of the Mendelssohn siblings

On this week’s episode of ‘New Classical Tracks,’ pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason explores the music of Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn. In particular, she talks about Fanny’s ‘Easter Sonata,’ which was for many years thought to have been composed by her brother. Listen now!

17:16
JoAnn Falletta celebrates mentor and close friend Lukas Foss on new album
28:39
Jan Vogler performs rare cello concerto on latest recording
37:41
Danish String Quartet serves up its third collection of folk songs with 'Keel Road'
22:26
Soprano Karen Slack celebrates rare songs by Florence Price
40:23
Guitarist Sharon Isbin goes live and shares a memory with Andres Segovia
28:44
Violist Molly Gebrian and pianist Danny Holt celebrate three 'Trailblazers' of classical music
27:39
Pianist Norman Krieger plays Gershwin's top hits on latest album
28:31
VIEW ALL EPISODES

About New Classical Tracks®

Host Julie Amacher provides an in-depth exploration of a new classical music release each week.

Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn, Radio Public, or RSS.

About New Classical Tracks®