Paul Hindemith & Alfred Schnittke

After three successful solo piano programs for ECM, Anna Gourari expands the instrumental spectrum here with the Orchestra Della Svizzera Italiana under the direction of Markus Poschner in impressive performances of Alfred Schnittke's Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra and Paul Hindemith's Die vier Temperamente. Gourari's piano artistry is virtuosic and crystal clear, and her holistic, far-reaching understanding of the instrument comes into its own in Schnittke's polystylistic music. The orchestra also shines in a powerful interpretation of Hindemith's symphony Mathis der Maler. Contrasts arise not only through the juxtaposition of the three works, but also within the pieces, which share a fiery temperament and high technical demands. The album was recorded in December 2021 in the Auditorio Stelio Molo in Lugano.