The works for piano and orchestra by Igor Stravinsky (1882–1971) represent a substantial part of his output and reflect his evolving musical style during the early twentieth century.

Igor Stravinsky is best known for his revolutionary ballets such as The Rite of Spring. His works for piano and orchestra vividly reflect the rhythmic precision, clarity of texture and Neoclassical influences that became defining features of his musical language.

At the heart of this recording are the Concerto for Piano and Wind Instruments (1923–24) and the Capriccio for Piano and Orchestra (1928–29), both of which Stravinsky also wrote for his own performances as a pianist. While the Concerto is striking for its unusual scoring without strings and its distinctive, percussive piano writing, the Capriccio is lighter, more playful and richer in orchestral colour. The programme is complemented by shorter solo works including Tango, Ragtime, Circus Polka and Piano-Rag-Music, in which popular influences meet Stravinsky’s unmistakable rhythms, dissonances and musical wit.

The soloist is Giuseppe Andaloro, born in Palermo in 1982 and a prizewinner at prestigious international competitions, including the Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition. He has performed at major venues from La Scala in Milan, the Konzerthaus Berlin and London’s Royal Festival Hall to concert halls in Tokyo, Singapore and Hong Kong. As a soloist, he has collaborated with orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra and the NHK Symphony Orchestra, and with conductors such as Vladimir Ashkenazy and Gianandrea Noseda.