Album

For his debut recording on Decca, pianist Benjamin Grosvenor performed music of Frédéric Chopin, Franz Liszt, and Maurice Ravel, demonstrating both a keen awareness of his prodigious abilities and a knack for creating a balanced and interesting program. Chopin's four dynamic Scherzos are interspersed with three Nocturnes (chosen to correspond to the Scherzo's keys), while the remainder of the program is devoted to Liszt's transcriptions of two of Chopin's songs and the nocturne, En rêve, along with Ravel's notoriously difficult Gaspard de la nuit. The Chopin Scherzos are distinctively played with incisive attacks, commanding expression, and bravura speed, which, when taken altogether, make the gentle Nocturnes necessary interludes to leaven the Scherzos' volatile moods. The Liszt portion of the program is even lighter, with a nice mix of lyricism and colorful virtuosic turns, and the sweetness of the music balances the rather unsentimental Chopin interpretations. Less soothing is the dark and haunted music of Ravel's Gaspard de la nuit, which provides Grosvenor his finest moments. If any piece demonstrates this pianist's technical skills and expressive depth, then this tryptich succeeds, for it showcases his talent for weaving fantastic expressions and virtuosic playing into a magical, disturbing, and chilling experience. Even at the beginning of his career, Grosvenor shows maturity and insight, and he offers an admirable album that displays not only what he has achieved thus far, but promises great things ahead. This rising star bears watching and this CD demands repeated listening.

© Blair Sanderson, Rovi

CD 1
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Scherzo No.1 in B-, Op.20 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
1	Scherzo No.1 in B-, Op.20	8:17			$1.49
Frédéric François Chopin Composer 3 Nocturnes, Op.15 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
2	No.2 in F#	3:10			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
3	Scherzo No.4 in E, Op.54	9:58			$1.49
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Nocturne in E-, Op.72, No.1 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
4	Nocturne in E-, Op.72, No.1	4:01			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Scherzo No.3 in C#-, Op.39 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
5	Scherzo No.3 in C#-, Op.39	6:40			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Nocturne in C#-, Op. posth, KKIVa/16, CT.127 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
6	Nocturne in C#-, Op. posth, KKIVa/16, CT.127	3:46			$0.99
Frédéric François Chopin Composer Scherzo No.2 in Bb-, Op.31 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
7	Scherzo No.2 in Bb-, Op.31	9:11			$1.49
Franz Liszt Composer 6 Polish Songs (Op.74), S.480, R.145 Work 7:00 Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
8	5.Moja pieszczotka (My Pleasures): Nocturne	3:21			$0.99
9	1.Zyczenie (Maiden's Wish)	3:39			$0.99
Franz Liszt Composer En rêve (Nocturne), S.207, R.87 Work Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
10	En rêve (Nocturne), S.207, R.87	2:18			$0.99
Maurice Ravel Composer Gaspard de la nuit Work 20:43 Benjamin Grosvenor Piano
11	1.Ondine	6:34			$0.99
12	2.Le gibet	5:29			$0.99
13	3.Scarbo	8:40			$1.49