- A
- A
- A
As with many another in Hyperion’s long-running series of “Romantic Piano Concertos,” this is the first time the two (1876 and 1905) by French composer Charles-Marie Widor have been recorded. And what a joy to hear vital, intelligent, richly scored piano concertos not by Rachmaninoff or Tchaikovsky! Widor’s First takes a while to get off the ground— the opening is almost a compendium of ways to begin a piano concerto, and the opening Allegro is more theme and gesture than melody and development. A charming Andante follows, then a scherzo-like finale that sounds as Russian as it does Gallic. The Fantaisie (1889) is rich in ideas and most compelling in architecture. The first several minutes are in a moderate tempo and lead to a dramatic middle section; the climax presents the main theme at a fortissimo as a reward for its labors. Concerto No. 2 is more chromatic, but also more settled in demeanor; the luxurious Adagio has a ravishing violin solo. This is one of the best-sounding Hyperion CDs I’ve heard overall (the winds are sometimes a little buried, hardly a deal-breaker), and Markus Becker is perfect—he’s got chops, tasteful emotion, and great clarity. The orchestra is excellent throughout.
By Stephen Estep
More articles from this editorRead Next From Music
Music for 18 Musicians
- Apr 23, 2024
Schumann: Piano Quartet & Quintet
- Apr 16, 2024
Mendelssohn: Symphony No. 4 (1833 & 1834 versions)
- Apr 09, 2024
The Resonance Between
- Apr 02, 2024