Prokofiev: Piano Concerto No 3 · Ravel: Piano Concero in G

“Argerich at her most charismatically brilliant.” --BBC Music Magazine

“For those who prefer studio recordings, Argerich's highly regarded 1974 taping has been added to her famous pairing of the Ravel G major and Prokofiev Third Piano Concertos. This one has both raw passion and wonderfully controlled gradations of touch and tone.” --Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

There have been others to match the bustle and brilliance of Argerich's Prokofiev, her coloristic range, her drive, her flashiness, her straining at the leash. But I'm not sure I could name anyone who has so satisfyingly combined all those qualities, who has given us such a rocket-launched recapitulation in the first movement, such circus-routine vividness in the following variations (Prokofiev grew up in a Russia where `circusization of the arts' was one of the 'in' concepts), or such monstrous, hyperbolic fairy-tale imagery in the finale, and all done with the most engaging reckless abandon.

The Ravel Concerto is another bundle of energy. I had forgotten how miraculous is the blend and interplay of piano and orchestra, and how ecstatically Argerich weaves around the cor anglais restatement in the slow movement.

Embarras de richesses indeed, now that DG have added Argerich's Gaspard to the original LP coupling. Here is a version of Ravel's devilish triptych which is unusually faithful to his subdued dynamic markings, quite apart from its breathtaking agility. The results ring poetically true at the same time as defying criticism in pianistic terms. -- Gramophone [12/1995]

MP3 320 · 153 MB

Prokofiev: Alexander Nevsky, Lieutenant Kijé

"Abbado's performance of Alexander Nevsky culminates in a deeply moving account of the tragic lament after the battle (here very beautifully sung by Obraztsova), made the more telling when the battle itself is so fine an example of orchestral virtuosity. The chorus is as incisive as the orchestra. The digital remastering of the 1980 recording has been all gain, and the sound is very impressive indeed. A fine account of Lieutenant Kijé..." -- Penguin Guide

MP3 320 · 128 MB

Prokofiev, Sibelius: Violin Concertos

Ilya Gringolts is a player of formidable technique and considerable musical imagination, and finds congenial partners here in the vastly experienced Neeme Järvi and his Gothenburg orchestra. The Sibelius Concertio is performed with great strength and poetry . . . --BBC Music Magazine

Ilya Gringolts has something to offer to listeners in the notes as well as in his performances . . . Gringolts manages to combine Oistrakh's mystical intensity, especially to the outer movements, with Szigeti's caustic asperity . . . He makes bold gestures with plenty of tonal resources to spare, never crossing over into either indulgent warmth or rough edginess.

Gringolts speaks of the magical moments a soloist experiences after the sound of the last movement dies away. His own reading of that final page serves as a transcendental explication of his remarks . . . His readings, by turns fey and ardent, make these pieces out to be miniatures collectively of rather more importance than they've generally been taken to be by other performers . . .

Ilya Gringolts seems to be one of the handful of violinists of the younger generation who takes risks to personalize what he plays -- and generally succeeds. His musical intelligence makes as strong an impression as does his technical preparedness . . . Strongly recommended.

--Robert Maxham, Fanfare, 01 November 2004

MP3 320 · 150 MB