Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Performer: Hélène Grimaud
Orchestra: Staatskapelle Dresden
Conductor: Vladimir Jurowski
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Deutsche Grammophon
Catalogue: 4776595
Release: 2007
Size: 210 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor”
01. I. Allegro
02. II. Adagio un poco mosso
03. III. Rondo. Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 28 in A major, Op. 101
04. I. Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto ma non troppo)
05. II. Lebhaft, marschmäßig (Vivace alla marcia)
06. III. Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto)
07. IV. Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr und mit Entschlossenheit (Allegro)
Hélène Grimaud’s performances on this disc — a coupling of Beethoven “Emperor” Piano Concerto with his Piano Sonata in A major, Op. 101 — are truly fantastic. Her technique is essentially untouchable and her tone is surprisingly colorful. And, as in her previous recordings, her interpretations are outrageous. With Vladimir Jurowski and the Dresden Staatskapelle in the Concerto, Grimaud is unafraid to do whatever she wants with balance and tempos. And alone in the Sonata, she is even more audacious, bending, shaping, sculpting the music with no restraint applied except her own taste. And, while there is no guarantee that Grimaud’s tastes will suit your own, you owe it to yourself to hear and judge for yourself.
One might have thought Beethoven’s strongly architectural music wouldn’t be susceptible to such blandishment. But Grimaud’s willfulness matches the composer’s own broad streak of ornery individuality, and her sensual shapes and malleable tempos do the same. Jurowski gets the Dresden Staatskapelle to follow where Grimaud leads in the Concerto, and the results in both cases are perhaps the most persuasive recording of the pianist’s career. Deutsche Grammophon’s sound is exceptional.v