On January 8, Decca Classics will release Nelson Freire: Chopin, which will mark Lionel Bringuier’s debut on the label. The French conductor leads the legendary pianist and the Gürzenich Orchester Köln in the composer’s Piano Concerto No. 2 for the album, which also includes a selection of solo piano works. The album’s release coincides with Lionel and Freire reuniting for three concerts with the Tonhalle Orchestra Zurich, where Lionel is enjoying his inaugural year as Chief Conductor and Music Director, for the same piano concerto on January 7, 8, and 9.
Lionel and Freire previously appeared on recording together in the same work as part of a live DVD and Bluray release from the BBC Proms for Bel Air Classiques.Gramophone deemed the recording “a tremendous concert…by a conductor who is going to be around for a long time leading the world’s greatest orchestras.”