Album

Hélène Grimaud's performances on this disc—a coupling of Beethoven "Emperor" Piano Concerto with his Piano Sonata in A major, Op. 101—are truly fantastic. Her technique is essentially untouchable and her tone is surprisingly colorful. And, as in her previous recordings, her interpretations are outrageous. With Vladimir Jurowski and the Dresden Staatskapelle in the Concerto, Grimaud is unafraid to do whatever she wants with balance and tempos. And alone in the Sonata, she is even more audacious, bending, shaping, sculpting the music with no restraint applied except her own taste. And, while there is no guarantee that Grimaud's tastes will suit your own, you owe it to yourself to hear and judge for yourself.

One might have thought Beethoven's strongly architectural music wouldn't be susceptible to such blandishment. But Grimaud's willfulness matches the composer's own broad streak of ornery individuality, and her sensual shapes and malleable tempos do the same. Jurowski gets the Dresden Staatskapelle to follow where Grimaud leads in the Concerto, and the results in both cases are perhaps the most persuasive recording of the pianist's career. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is exceptional.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Piano Concerto No.5 in Eb, Op.73 ('Emperor') Work Recorded 2006 38:15 Vladimir Jurowski Conductor, Hélène Grimaud Piano, Dresden Staatskapelle Orchestra
1	1.Allegro	20:08			$3.49
2	2.Adagio un poco mosso	8:04			$1.49
3	3.Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo	10:03			$1.99
Ludwig van Beethoven Composer Piano Sonata No.28 in A, Op.101 Work Recorded 2007 20:55 Hélène Grimaud Piano
4	1.Etwas lebhaft und mit der innigsten Empfindung (Allegretto ma non troppo)	4:10			$0.99
5	2.Lebhaft, marschmäßig (Vivace alla marcia)	5:58			$0.99
6	3.Langsam und sehnsuchtsvoll (Adagio ma non troppo, con affetto)	3:20			$0.99
7	4.Geschwind, doch nicht zu sehr, und mit Entschlossenheit (Allegro)	7:27			$1.49