Does the world need another recording of the Grieg piano concerto? Possibly not, but this pairing with the Saint-Saëns second concerto in G minor, Op 22 makes an attractive package from the young Ukrainian pianist Vadym Kholodenko, who plays with intelligent virtuosity and youthful fire. The first movement of the Saint-Saëns jumps off the page, while his deliciously delicate handling of the central allegro scherzando is irresistible. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra players manage to find some originality in their interpretation of the Grieg and conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya keeps things rewardingly broad and expansive.
Grieg/Saint-Saëns: Piano Concertos CD review – youthful fire lifts old favourites
Stephen Pritchard
Kholodenko/Norwegian Radio Orchestra/Harth-Bedoya
(Harmonia Mundi)
Contributor
Stephen Pritchard
Stephen Pritchard has written on classical music for most of his 45 years in journalism. He was the Observer's first readers' editor, and prior to that was a managing editor and production editor
Stephen Pritchard
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