FRIEDRICH VON FLOTOW (1812-1883): Piano Concertos No. 1 in C Minor and No. 2 in A Minor, Jubel Overture, Incidental music to the play Wilhelm von Oranien in Whitehall.

Description: The two concertos from the author of Martha are very early works, from 1830 and 1831. They are also very short: the first almost reaches 14 minutes in this performance and the second almost hits 18 only because it adds a fourth, scherzo, movement. Weber's influence is clear to see in the latter while the former is content to offer brief, sparkling melodies of toe-tapping style and, obviously at its length, never comes close to outstaying its welcome. The other pieces come from the other end of Flotow's career: Jubel from 1857 (very Mendelssohnian) and the 21-minute, five-part suite of incidental music (which includes Rule Britannia in one movement) from 1861. Carl Petersson (piano), Pilsen Philharmonic Orchestra; Hans Peter Wiesheu.