Grieg
Piano Concerto
Havard Gimse (piano) Royal Scottish National Orchestra/ Engeset (Naxos 8.557279)
Also available on SACD and DVD, this blistering performance fulfils the promise shown in the music of their fellow Norwegian Geirr Tveitt by the exciting partnership of pianist Havard Gimse and conductor Bjarte Engeset. Generating immense excitement from those celebrated open ing bars, Gimse proves himself equally capable of delicate lyricism in an exquisite rendition of the immortal adagio. Coupled with fine playing from the RSNO in the Concert Overture 'In Autumn' and the four Symphonic Dances, Op. 64, this is a thrilling addition to the catalogue, suggesting there's more than merely geographical proximity between the Scottish and Nordic souls.
Debussy & Stravinsky
Piano works
Alexander Gurning (piano) (EMI 5626652)
A reference from Martha Argerich is no mean calling card, and this debut disc from the young Belgian pianist Alexander Gurning comes in an intriguing new EMI series called Martha Argerich Presents. His Debussy is as light-fingered as lyrical, the Preludes (from Book One) duly languid, the Images (from Book Two) suitably shimmering, the transcription of L'après-midi d'un faune mellow if somewhat gauche. It's his Stravinsky that really impresses, the three movements from Petrushka maintaining the almost scary intensity with which Gurning launches himself into its opening bars.
Rachmaninov
Symphony No 2 in E minor
Budapest Festival Orchestra/ Fischer (Channel Classics CCS 21698)
That luscious adagio is always the pivotal moment of any performance of Rachmaninov's titanic second symphony, and the sensuous strings of the Budapest Festival Orchestra under its co-founder, Ivan Fischer, make this outstanding recording no exception. But the outer movements are not, for once, overshadowed by its lyrical beauty; Fischer is at pains to demonstrate their sinuous strengths, drawing a rich range of colours from his very accomplished players. In this impressive company the celebrated Vocalise, a bonus to an already fulfilling programme, amounts to a soothing encore.
