Ludwig van Beethoven; Caroline Shaw - Beethoven 5, Vol. 5 (Jonathan Biss)

Information

Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven; Caroline Shaw

• Beethoven - Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37
• Shaw - Watermark

Jonathan Biss, piano

Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra

Malin Broman, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Orchid Classics

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Jonathan Biss concludes his ambitious Beethoven/5 commissioning project with its final installment, marking the completion of one of the twenty-first century’s most innovative Beethoven recording series. This fifth volume pairs Ludwig van Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor with Watermark by Caroline Shaw. Shaw’s composition reimagines Beethoven’s concerto through direct quotations and subtle echoes of its harmonic language, creating a compelling dialogue between historical tradition and contemporary interpretation. By “imagining Beethoven imagining it,” Shaw transforms familiar material into a distinctly original musical work, bringing fresh perspective to one of Beethoven’s celebrated masterpieces.

Born in 1980, pianist Jonathan Biss grew up in a deeply musical family in Bloomington, Indiana—both parents were violinists, and his brother a pianist. He began piano studies at six, driven by his own enthusiasm rather than family pressure. After early training with Karen Taylor and Evelyne Brancart, he entered the Curtis Institute of Music at 17 to study with Leon Fleisher, whose artistry profoundly influenced him. Known for his humor and self-awareness, Biss views music as both a privilege and an ongoing challenge. His career has since included major performances with leading orchestras and conductors, including Lorin Maazel and the Cleveland Orchestra.

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