JOSHUA PIERCE

"The pianism is impressive... what unites the [three] works [on the program] is simply the excellent pianism that Pierce brings to them... The disc is a remastering of performances...and the sound is quite good. Pierce fully understands the grand symphonic scale of the Brahms concerto, giving it a big sound... He plays with warmth, a strong sense of rhythm... everything in the concerto is played with strength and fervor...  Pierce brings forth [Weber’s Konzertstück ] with considerable skill... Pierce and Bystrìk Režucha pace the work rather quickly...and the result is a strong and effective contrast with the worry and emotional indulgence in the first portions of the piece."

Mark J. Estren, InfoDad [September 2024]

"Joshua Pierce’s performance of Brahms’ Piano Concerto No.2 is so intense the phrase 'barn burner' came to mind as it unfolded... Having loved this concerto since I initially heard it many decades ago, I was immensely thrilled with how Pierce played his part in harmony with the orchestra first note to last. As is the case with his recordings for MSR of Beethoven’s piano concertos, Pierce and the orchestra inspire each other to create an impassioned rendition of this Brahms masterpiece that is unsurpassed...  However, Pierce and his supporting orchestra moves on to again thrill their audience with Cesar Franck’s symphonic poem, Les Djinns... anyone fortunate enough to possess this recording will be treated to a superb rendition of Carl Maria von Weber’s Concertstuck in F Minor. It becomes superb entertainment while Piece demonstrates his pianistic skills and talents in a bravura performance to be heard again and again."

Joel C. Thompson, Cherry Grove Music Review [August 2024]

"Joshua Pierce, New York City native and one of the most uniquely gifted keyboard artists of our time, shows his prowess once again in an imaginative program of works by 19th Century composers that scan the expressive and imaginative range of the piano itself... "Pierce obviously delights in exploring the wild possibilities inherent in some very rich scores...  Joshua Pierce shows a definite affinity for  [Carl Maria von Weber's Konzertstück] which has an abundance of waltz melodies. After what appears to be a rousing conclusion, which Pierce renders very well, we pause briefly for a quiet coda."

Phil Muse, Atlanta Audio Club [Summer 2024]

​The award-winning pianist Joshua Pierce has distinguished himself as one of the leading performers of his generation as well as one of the most prolific recording artists in recent times, having recorded over 255 works on 70 CDs for labels such as MSR Classics, EMI Classics, Albany, VOX, Koch International, Naxos, JVC, Pro Arte, Mode, Virgin Classics, Sony Classical, BBC Recordings, Carlton Classics, Wergo, Varese Sarabande, PITCH, Solyd Recordings, and many others. His recordings include a wide-range of works from Bach, Chopin, Respighi, Casella, Prokofiev, Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov to Bloch, Hindemith, Rachmaninoff, Strauss, Turok and Duke Ellington. This also includes the complete piano concertos of Beethoven, Brahms, Gershwin and Liszt. All of these recordings have received outstanding international recognition and awards. His collaboration, performances and many first recordings of the music of the important 20th century American innovator/composer, John Cage, are historical and legendary. Apart from his recordings, Pierce maintains a very active career as a soloist and collaborative performer throughout the United States, South America, Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia with such orchestras as the Moscow State Philharmonic, State Symphony Orchestra of Russia, Philharmonia of London, Royal Philharmonic, Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra, Czech National Symphony, Slovak Philharmonic, Slovak State Philharmonia, Slovak Radio Symphony, Slovak State Chamber Orchestra of Zilina, the Cappella Istropolitana of Bratislava, Luxembourg Philharmonic, Italian Radio Orchestra (RAI), Mexico City Philharmonic, Jalisco Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Guadalajara and the Sinfonica Nacional of Peru. In the United States, he has appeared with the Utah Symphony, San Antonio Symphony, Missouri Symphony, Chicago Sinfonietta and the Philharmonia Virtuosi of New York, among others. He has also appeared at New York’s major concert venues including the 92nd St. Y, Symphony Space, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Lefrak Auditorium, John Drew Theater/Guild Hall, East Hampton, The Kitchen, Roulette, Steinway Hall, The DiMenna Center For Classical Music, Merkin Hall, Alice Tully, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. He has also performed at the Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concert Series in Chicago, Amherst International Music Festival, International Piano Festival at Williams College, Seattle Festival of Contemporary Music, Music Mountain Chamber Music Festival and the Philips Collection in Washington D.C. His many International performances include performances at Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, Barbican Centre, Royal Festival Hall, Bergen International Music Festival in Norway, Victoria Hall in Geneva, Los Veranos de la Villa Festival in Madrid, Rote Fabrique, ISCM Festivals in Zurich, Moscow, Kazan and Venice, ISCM Europe-Asia 2000, The Sigurjon Olaesson Museum in Reykjavik, Festival of Russian Composers’ Unon Music Series and the International Alternativa Festival in Moscow. He has performed as soloist and collaborator in all the major cities in South Korea. Highly regarded as a chamber music collaborator, he has performed with Russia’s Leontovich String Quartet, Pierce-Aomori clarinet and piano duo, Chamber Players International and with violinists Eric Friedman and Andrew Smith and with cellist Jeffrey Solow. In the United States, he has been heard on nationally syndicated radio programs including Morning Pro Musica (WGBH), WQXR’s First Hearing, John Schaefer’s New Sounds, NPR’s All Things Considered and David Dubal’s The American Century and Reflections From the Keyboard. Pierce continues to win critical praise for his versatility, power, musical intelligence and deeply felt interpretations. He has had major awards and citations from such American and European publications as International Who’s Who, Downbeat, Billboard, Fanfare, Keyboard Magazine, Cashbox, Heavy Metal, the coveted German Music Critics Prize, Germany’s Fono Forum, France’s Diapason Award, Grand Prize of the IBLA International Competition for Contemporary Music and was a nominee for the 23rd International Franz Liszt Grand Prix du Disque of Hungary. He has received five PSC-CUNY Research Award Grants and is a Foundation Award winner from the Aaron Copland Fund for Music. He is a multiple Grammy Award Nominee and has served several years on the International Fulbright Committee. He is listed in Who’s Who in America and is the recipient of that publication’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
  JOHANNES BRAHMS (1833-1897)
PIANO CONCERTO NO.2 IN B-FLAT MAJOR, OP.83
I. Allegro non troppo
II. Allegro appassionato
III. Andante – Più adagio – Tempo 1 – Più adagio
IV. Allegretto grazioso – Un poco più presto           

CÉSAR FRANCK (1822-1890)
LES DJINNS – SYMPHONIC POEM FOR PIANO AND ORCHESTRA, M.45
 
CARL MARIA VON WEBER (1786-1826)
CONCERTSTÜCK IN F MINOR, OP.79
Larghetto ma non troppo – Poco a poco più mosso a piacere –
Allegro passionate – Tempo di Marcia – Più mosso – Presto giocoso
 



MSR Classics