The Romantic Piano Concerto Vol.27

Description

Product description Disc one: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D major Op 17 / Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Op 22 / Piano Concerto No. 3 in E flat major Op 29 / Wedding Cake Valse-Caprice for piano and strings Op 76.Disc 2: Piano Concerto No. 4 in C minor Op 44 / Piano Concerto No. 5 in F major Op 103 / Rapsodie d'Auvergne Op 73 / Allagro appasionato Op 70 / Africa Op 89 .com Pianist Stephen Hough is a certified genius, recipient of a 2001 MacArthur Foundation "genius grant." Although he apparently received the award for his explorations of uncommon piano repertoire, he also deserved it for the quality of his piano tone, which is extremely beautiful, as conveyed here by Hyperion's lush recording of the Saint-Saens piano concertos. Unlike most previous volumes of Hyperion's Romantic Piano Concerto series, this one includes some familiar works, especially the Second Piano Concerto. If you listen to that first, you'll realize just how good Hough's performances are throughout this set, since he matches any of the great pianists who have recorded the work. Notice the way he zips through the incredibly fast finale without the slightest hint of effort or rush. Although the Second, Fourth, and Fifth Concertos are the only ones still heard in our concert halls, all these pieces have their attractions--especially the delightful waltz "Wedding Cake," which would make a great concert encore. Sakari Oramo, the new music director of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, provides alert accompaniment, rich in detail, and the orchestra plays beautifully. This isn't an inexpensive set, but quality like this is cheap at any price. --Leslie Gerber