These magnificent recordings of the Ravel Piano Concertos have taken a far too long leave of absence from the Decca catalogue and are now back, with generous Faure and Franck couplings. Beautifully recorded sound too.
MAURICE RAVEL
Piano Concerto in G major
Piano Concerto for the Left Hand
Alicia de Larrocha, piano
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Lawrence Foster
GABRIEL FAURE
Fantasie for Piano & Orchestra, Op. 111
CESAR FRANCK
Variations Symphoniques for Piano & Orchestra
Alicia de Larrocha, piano
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos
‘You know straight away that this is to be a ‘take no prisoners’ performance … superb playing … intricate passage-work is dispatched with ease and relish [Left Hand Concerto]exciting, edge-of-seat stuff at times with calm, gentleness at others’ Fine Music
‘Alicia de Larrocha’s limpid, elegant pianism is equally at home in the brilliant, refined impressionism of Ravel and the late-Romantic intensity of Fauré and Franck’ Limelight
‘this Australian release is very welcome indeed. The performances are excellent, with de Larrocha, in her distinctive way, finding plenty of colour and sparkle’
*** Penguin Guide
‘uniformly outstanding … rich and opulent’ ClassicsToday.com