Melcher Melchers - Piano Concertos (Peter Jablonski)

Information

Composer: Melcher Melchers

• Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 18
• Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 23

Peter Jablonski, piano

Gävle Symphony Orchestra

Christian Reif, conductor

Date: 2026

Label: Ondine

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Pianist Peter Jablonski partners with the Gävle Symphony Orchestra and chief conductor Christian Reif to revive two forgotten Nordic masterpieces: the piano concertos of Swedish composer Melcher Melchers. Overlooked for decades, Melchers’s concertos showcase a remarkably refined, expressive, and Romantic compositional voice. Through Jablonski’s nuanced interpretation and the orchestra's vibrant orchestral support, this album breathes new life into these rare works, offering listeners an illuminating rediscovery of elegant early-20th-century Swedish repertoire.

Swedish composer Melcher Melchers (1882–1961) was a prominent, though often overlooked, figure in 20th-century Scandinavian music. After graduating from the Stockholm Conservatoire, he relocated to Paris in the early 1900s, studying composition under Georges Caussade at the Paris Conservatoire with Gabriel Fauré’s endorsement. Immersed in the French avant-garde alongside Picasso, Matisse, Satie, and members of Les Six, Melchers co-founded the influential arts series Lyre et Palette. Returning to Sweden in 1919, he served as professor of composition at the Royal Conservatory of Music from 1925 to 1947, leaving behind a refined catalog of symphonic, concerto, and chamber works.

Peter Jablonski (b. 1971) is a celebrated Swedish pianist recognized for his mature, imaginative artistry. Discovered at 17 by Abbado and Ashkenazy, he signed with Decca and has since performed over 2,000 concerts with more than 150 orchestras worldwide, including the NHK Tokyo, Leipzig Gewandhaus, DSO Berlin, and Los Angeles Philharmonic. His repertoire spans Classical, Romantic, and contemporary composers, including premieres of works by Ronald Stevenson, Grażyna Bacewicz, and Wojciech Kilar. Jablonski’s recordings on Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Philips, and Ondine have earned numerous accolades, including Swedish Grammys, the Edison Award, the Gramophone Award, the Charles Cros Award, and the Litteris et Artibus medal.

High Resolution 24-bit / 96 kHz