Jonathan Plowright, pianist

Discography	To hear selected tracks simply click on those underlined (you will need RealPlayer), or the record company link if it is underlined on the left side of the page. To read a review in full, click on the underlined link. For further details and how to order copies, simply email.
HyperionCDA67630	Henryk Melcer Piano Concertos RELEASED JANUARY 2008 RECOMMENDED PIANIST MAGAZINE CONNOISSEURS CHOICE CLASSIC FM "This Hyperion release is simply stunning....The plaudits for Plowright... confirm a colossal musical mind and matching technical ease." INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW "Plowright enhances his glowing reputation as a musical alchemist of rare distinction with a transcendent technique." GRAMOPHONE "Jonathan Plowright explores more of the Polish keyboard repertoire with these technically unforgiving but hugely enjoyable late 19th-century works by Henryk Melcer. The second requires tremendous stamina from Plowright, who plays almost continually, ending with a massive final allegro that will take your breath away." OBSERVER " Plowright sounds completely unfazed by even the most note-splattered pages, throwing himself into the fray with abandonment and aplomb" CLASSIC FM MAGAZINE "Jonathan Plowright provides a masterclass in dexterity at the keyboard, rising to meet all of the composer's challenges with a combination of scintillating virtuosity and deft sensitivity. The end of the C minor Concerto's opening movement is particularly telling, as he delivers the brilliant cadenza with utter authority before gently whisking the music away with a flourish of almost impossibly quick semiquavers." MUSICALCRITICISM.COM "Jonathan Plowright's ability to identify with works of such obscurity and brilliance does him credit. More to the point he has this wonderful ability to articulate to listeners the delights and joys of these utterly forgotten works." MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL "Throughout Jonathan Plowright plays with dedication, affection and technical aplomb" CLASSICALSOURCE.COM "Given the rarity of the repertoire, Jonathan Plowright and Christoph Konig have done a superb job of absorbing Melcer’s idiom. Care over both works’ expressive rhetoric is everywhere apparent in performances that suggest affectionate familiarity." BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE "He is a constant joy." PIANIST MAGAZINE
DanacordDACOCD669	Rarities of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum 2006 RELEASED AUGUST 2007 Bach-Rummel - "Die Seele ruht in Jesu Händen" "a haunting account ....., with some of the most magically hushed pianissimo playing you are ever likely to hear". GRAMOPHONE
Hyperion/CDA67562	Paderewski Solo Piano RELEASED AUGUST 2007 Sonata in E flat minor Op 21 Variations and Fugue on an original theme in A minor Op 11 Variations and Fugue on an original theme in E flat minor Op 23 "The playing is world-class; understated virtuosity at its best. Plowright easily integrates all the difficult elements – and Paderewski described the Op.23 Variations as his best and most difficult work - into the musical lines as if they don’t exist." BBC.CO.UK CLASSICAL REVIEW "it would be hard to imagine playing of greater sympathy or a more intimidating visceral strength and cogency. A pianist who excels in music's darker undercurrents and declamations, he clears every daunting hurdle with awe-inspiring ease, making a formidable case for one of music's neglected byways." GRAMOPHONE "Plowright plays this great piece marvellously and with devotion; the Sonata is a fiendishly difficult work to perform but Plowright has its measure and gives a wonderfully exciting and sensitive performance" CLASSICAL SOURCE.COM "Jonathan Plowright plays it quite superbly, with an enviable range of keyboard colour" THE GUARDIAN "Not only does he negotiate Paderewski's dizzying virtuoso demands with evident ease, but also his ability to bring an almost string-like tone to the more lyrical passiages constantly fascinates in this excellent recording" BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE "....tackling the Sonata Op21, which Paderewski admitted was 'extremely difficult' with dazzling confidence. He applies the same awesome technique to the Brahmsian Variations and Fugues" OBSERVER "Plowright performs with conviction and panache" SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE "Plowright has a specific affinity with Polish music and seems ideally attuned to Paderewski's brand of pianism." DAILY TELEGRAPH "Jonathan Plowright semble avoir parfaitement saisi que l'esprit qui y souffle est celui de la musique et non du simple piano. Il leur donne une unité, une densité qui méritent l'admiration, soulignant l'envergure et l'humilité d'un compositeur à redécouvrir vraiment" DIAPASON "Ce disque globalement très intéressant est parfaitement joué par Jonathan Plowright, avec les moyens idoines." CLASSICSTODAY.COM "a brilliant and deeply satisfying performance....it comes with my full recommendation, simply because Plowright is such a fine pianist and the music deserves to be heard." PIANIST "there’s no doubt that these are commanding, triumphant and ultra-virtuosic performances of lasting value." MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL "he commands an exquisite range of pastel colors" FANFARE
Hyperion/CDA67481/2	Johann Sebastian Bach Piano Transcriptions Walter Rummel "nothing that I've heard even begins to compare with the rapt and refined playing of Jonathan Plowright on these remarkable CDs" INDEPENDENT "Jonathan Plowright performs all of these pieces to perfection" American Record Guide "One of the finest piano recordings of recent years" CLASSIC FM "Exquisite" BBC RADIO 3 "Plowright is alive to every nuance and detail" PIANIST "musical and pianistic greatness" GRAMOPHONE "This is masterly, transcendent piano playing on every level.... one of the loveliest piano releases of 2006" CLASSICSTODAY.COM "Amazing too is Jonathan Plowright's ability to project these pieces while keeping every voice and nuance in balance. Performances of rare identification and understanding make this a very special release" BBC Music Magazine "I really can't imagine Rummel's particular vision of this music being more vibrantly brought to life" International Record Review "Plowright’s wonderful voicing brings out the solo part in a beautiful twelve minutes of heart-rending devotion." MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL
DanacordDACOCD649	Rarities of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum 2004 "a more disciplined, yet no less thrilling account than Hofmann's" GRAMOPHONE "The standout items for me include...Jonathan Plowright's house-bringing down rendition of the Harrington-Gibbs/Art Tatum" PIANIST Sergei Bortkiewicz - Etude D flat major Op 15/8 A. Harrington Gibbs - Runnin' Wild Zygmunt Stojowski - Caprice orientale Op 10/2
DanacordDACOCD619	Rarities of Piano Music at Schloss vor Husum 2003 "Here is a pianist at the top of his game with meticulous attention to detail, stylistic absorption, and a vivid sense of colour and character; the piano positively purrs with pleasure. GRAMOPHONE “This work is beautifully played by the British pianist Jonathan Plowright” “This is cultured and imaginative playing" MUSIC WEB INTERNATIONAL Francis Poulenc - Les Soirées de Nazelles
Hyperion/CDA67545	Constant Lambert Piano Concerto CD OF THE WEEK CLASSIC FM CD OF THE WEEK THE SUNDAY TIMES EDITOR'S CHOICE GRAMOPHONE "Jonathan Plowright cuts a dash with his scintillating technique, opalescent tone and beguiling range of colour” GRAMOPHONE "pianist Jonathan Plowright brings just the right amount of vitality, wit and delicacy.” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE "Plowright and Jones are masterly advocates for this brilliant, entertaining music" THE SUNDAY TIMES
Hyperion/CDA67437	Sigismund Stojowski Solo Piano CD OF THE MONTH MUZYKA 21 (Poland) "his playing is of a superlative warmth, naturalness and virtuosity” GRAMOPHONE "once you've heard Plowright storming the heavens I guarantee you'll be well and truly hooked.” INTERNATIONAL PIANO MAGAZINE "Jonathan Plowright's glittering, forward moving interpretations and supreme pianistic command make these long dormant works come alive for a new generation of listeners" CLASSICSTODAY.COM "A delight.” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE Pensees Musicales Opus 1 1. Melodie 2. Prelude Deux Orientales Opus 10 1. Romance 2. Caprice Oriental from Quatre Morceaux Opus 26 3. Chant d'amour 4. Theme cracovien varie Fantasie Opus 38 from Aspirations Opus 39 1. Vers l'azur 3. Vers le caprice 4. Vers l'amour 5. Vers la joie Variations and Fugue on an Original Theme Opus 42
Hyperion/CDA67314	Sigismund Stojowski Piano Concertos CD OF THE MONTH MUZYKA 21 (Poland) RECORDING OF THE YEAR MUSICWEB INT. BEST OF THE YEAR CD 2002 AUDIOPHILE AUDITION "A great musical event of worldwide proportions" MUZYKA 21 (Poland) "This is simply a tremendous release... a truly great recording, an award winner.” INTERNATIONAL RECORD REVIEW "Jonathan Plowright is on breathtaking form" International Piano "two gloriously worthwhile rarities in superb performances” GRAMOPHONE “Jonathan Plowright plays both concertos brilliantly” AMERICAN RECORD GUIDE "le jeu brillant et scintillant de Jonathan Plowright" LA SCENA MUSICALE “Jonathan Plowright has the chops and instinct for this kind of music” FANFARE USA "breathtaking virtuosity" BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE "Throughout this disc Jonathan Plowright's playing is simply a knockout" MUSICWEB INTERNATIONAL Piano Concerto No1 in F sharp minor Op3 Andante poco mosso - Allegro un poco maestoso - Lento, poco a poco animato - Doppio movimento Andante sostenuto e molto cantabile Allegro con fuoco - Presto - Più presto Piano Concerto No2 in A flat major (Prologue, Scherzo and Variations) Op32 Prologue: Andante con moto Scherzo: Presto Variations: Tema, variations I-X
Master Musicians/ESCD004	Paderewski Solo Piano “Plowright’s musical judgement is exemplary, with exquisite shaping of phrases and range of colour... the playing is superb” GRAMOPHONE Chants du Voyageur Op.8 Allegro agitato Andantino melancolico Andantino grazioso e moderato Andantino mistico Allegro giocoso Humoresques de Concert Op.14 Menuet Sarabande Caprice Burlesque Intermezzo Pollaco Krakovienne Fantastique Series de Morceaux Op.16 Legende Melodie Theme Varié Nocturne Legende Un Moment Musicale Menuet in A
SoundProjects SPJP1002	Jonathan Plowright Recital "one of the most accomplished and complete artists in Britain today" CD REVIEW Scriabin Sonata No.2 (Sonata Fantasie) in G# minor Andante Presto Janacek Sonata X 1905 Presentiment: con moto Death: adagio Szymanowski Theme & Variations in Bb minor Op.3 Paderewski Nocturne Op.16 No.4 Rachmaninov Six Moments Musicaux Op.16 (1896) Andantino con moto Allegro Andante Cantabile Presto Adagio sostenuto Maestoso
Master Musicians/ESCD001	Chopin Solo Piano, vol. 1 “distinguished Chopin playing by a master musician” “he has an uncanny knack of making the most familiar music sound fresh and interesting” BBC MUSIC MAGAZINE Ballade No.1 in G minor Op.23 Ballade No.3 in A flat major Op.47 Fantasie in F minor Op.49 Berceuse Op.57 Scherzo No.2 in B flat minor Op.31 Scherzo No.3 in C sharp minor Op.39
Kingdom KCLCD2016	Brahms Solo Piano "Plowright is an outstanding pianist, both powerful and tender" CLASSIC CD Klavierstücke Op.76 Capriccio in F# minor Capriccio in B minor Intermezzo in Ab major Intermezzo in Bb major Capriccio in C# minor Intermezzo in A major Intermezzo in A minor Capriccio in C major Two Rhapsodies Op.79 Rhapsody in B minor Rhapsody in G minor Sonata No.3 in F minor Op.5 Allegro maestoso Andante espressivo Scherzo: Allegro energico Intermezzo: Andante molto Allegro moderato ma rubato
SoundProjects SPCV1001	Capital Virtuosi Recital “On the evidence of this, their first recording, they have much to offer, largely because of the very keen rapport existing between the players and the group's founder, pianist Jonathan Plowright" GRAMOPHONE Mozart Piano concerto in F major K413 Allegro Larghetto Tempo di Menuetto Bach Concerto for 2 Violins in D minor Vivace Largo ma non tanto Allegro Haydn Piano Concerto in D major Hob.XVIII/II Vivace Un poco adagio Rondo all'Ongharese: Allegro assai Pachelbel Canon in D major