Fine Retrospective From Warner Classics Of Helene Grimaud's
John Kwok | New York, NY USA | 05/26/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Warner Classics has turned once more to its vaults, hoping to reap some additional financial rewards from legendary young French pianist Helene Grimaud, who has now an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon. While cynics may criticize this latest compilation from Warner Classics, serious fans of classical music may find much that is rewarding here. Grimaud's disciplined, yet emotionally intense performances have been compared favorably to the likes of Martha Argerich and Claudio Arrau. Many critics and fans have observed that she performs with the wisdom and maturity of an artist who is far more advanced in age than hers (This is an interesting observation in light of the recent success earned by another Deutsche Grammophon recording artist, Lang Lang, who has yet to attain the artistic maturity which Grimaud has demonstrated for years.). In these recordings made for Teldec in the mid to late 1990s, Grimaud was fortunate to work closely with such eminent conductors as David Zinman, Kurt Sanderling and Kurt Masur, and with excellent symphony orchestras in North America and Europe, including the Berliner Staatskapelle, New York Philharmonic and Baltimore Symphony orchestras. Among my favorites is her fiery performance of the Schumann Piano Concerto, which sounds remarkably fresh in her capable hands and in the excellent muscianship demonstrated from the Deutsches-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and conductor David Zinman. Yet another favorite is an exquisitely well-played performance of the Brahms 1st Piano Concerto, in which she is accompanied by Kurt Sanderling and the Berliner Staatskapelle. Not surprisingly, yet another highlight is her excellent, rather vibrant, performance of the Gershwin Piano Concerto with David Zinman conducting the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. If you've wondered why Helene Grimaud has received such ample praise from critics and fans alike, then hopefully you'll find this CD set as an important reason why she has earned such warm adulation from critics and classical music fans across the globe."