A special effect for Beethoven, a taste sensation for Mahler and Ravel, a symbolic mood enhancer in almost all of Strauss's orchestral music – the piccolo has truly paid its dues to create its place in music history. This new CD presents a collection of concertos in which the piccolo assumes the leading role, pushing performer Peter Verhoyen's two hands to the limit, surmounting not only the score but spatial and physical challenges as well.

The smallest member of the wind family became the umami of the symphonic palette in the early 19th century with an individual timbre that not only extended the orchestral sound of the period but also opened up new territories. A century later, the piccolo had become a permanent part of the orchestra and was often entrusted with virtuoso passages that fully realised its rhythmic and percussive potential; it was no longer regarded as an extension of the flute, but was now in the hands of specialised musicians. Its metamorphosis from wallflower to pacesetter was complete by the new millennium: the piccolo appears not only in the heart of the orchestra, but also as a soloist at the front of the stage.

Peter Verhoyen is principal piccolo of the Antwerp Symphony Orchestra, and has built up an excellent reputation as a specialist on his instrument. Since 2006 he has developed various concert programmes for piccolo and piano together with pianist Stefan De Schepper. With these projects he demonstrates that the piccolo earns a spot on the concert stage as a recital instrument. For a contemporary touch, Peter asked several Flemish composers to write new works for his instrument. The next step was the realisation of a series of CDs (Piccolo Tunes, The Birds!, Piccolo Polkas, La Gazza Ladra, Ma Mère l'Oye, Mighty Metamorphoses) in which the piccolo is the central instrument. For his dedication to contemporary Flemish music, Peter has been awarded the Fuga Trofee from the Union of Belgian composers in 2017.