Album

What a brilliant idea: having Pierre Boulez record Bartók's Piano Concertos (3) with three different soloists and three different orchestra. That way, each work has its own sound and identity with the only constants being the composer and the conductor. In Bartók's Concerto No. 1, Boulez welds Krystian Zimerman's graceful intensity and the Chicago Symphony's aggressive sonority into a coruscating whole. In Bartók's Concerto No. 2, Boulez fuses Leif Ove Andsnes' unyielding virtuosity and the Berlin Philharmonic's aggressive attack into a scintillating whole. In Bartók's Concerto No. 3, Boulez joins Hélène Grimaud's sensual tone with the London Symphony Orchestra's secure technique into a shimmering whole. In each concerto, Boulez creates a powerful portrait of the composer and all three form a wonderful triptych of one of the best composers of the first half of the twentieth century. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is transparent.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Béla Bartók Composer Piano Concerto No.1 in A, BB91, Sz.83 Work Recorded 2001 23:14 Krystian Zimerman Piano, Chicago Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Pierre Boulez Conductor
1	1.Allegro moderato	8:45			$1.49
2	2.Andante	7:52			$1.49
3	3.Allegro molto	6:37			$0.99
Béla Bartók Composer Piano Concerto No.2 in G, BB101, Sz.95 Work Recorded 2003 27:04 Leif Ove Andsnes Piano, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, Pierre Boulez Conductor
4	1.Allegro	9:25			$1.49
5	2.Adagio. Presto. Adagio	11:26			$1.99
6	3.Allegro molto	6:13			$0.99
Béla Bartók Composer Piano Concerto No.3 in E, BB127, Sz.119 (completed by Tibor Serly) Work Recorded 2004 25:47 London Symphony Orchestra Orchestra, Hélène Grimaud Piano, Pierre Boulez Conductor
7	1.Allegretto	7:33			$1.49
8	2.Adagio religioso	11:12			$1.99
9	3.Allegro vivace	7:02			$1.49