Chopin – Piano Concertos

November 2020
The CD was recorded by the young virtuoso, Benjamin Grosvenor, with the help of conductor Elim Chan at the lead of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. As the notice states, “one could summarize Benjamin Grosvenor’s rapid rise to the top in a litany of superlatives.” 

The poetic rhyme and spontaneity are repeatedly found throughout these two scores, very well brought to life by Grosvenor. His admirable technique with the right tone and intensity is just mesmerizing. 

The movements succeed in a colorful lyricism as well as eloquent virtuosism. The orchestra glows in sparkling lights, providing a gentle and rhythmic background to the soloist, in which Grosvenor pours all his virtuosity leading us though Chopin’s magnificent music, at once melancholy, fanciful and vigorous. The artists great sensitivity and deep charm is fully revealed in Opus 11, where he gives the Larghetto a refined dreamlike setting in which the listener will feel deeply immersed. The other two movements are confidently performed letting us enjoy the artist’s gifted abilities but without overload or mannerism.  

Grosvenor shines in Opus 21 eagerly delving into lines that seem improvised, with enthusiasm, dynamism and explicit chromatism.  He delights us with a vehement sound that fluidly goes through a song of pearly in a flawless execution, at the top of the pianistic gesture.  

Of the two Concertos, it is above all n° 1 that blows us away from the beginning to the end. His first movement Allegro maestoso admirably articulated, is performed with great passion and lyricism. Benjamin Grosvenor leads us in this intimate Chopinian immersion, all the way to the ultimate achievement of the author: the Andante spianato and Grande Polonaise brillante opus 22 (1836). The work is deeply charged with the nostalgic feeling that Chopin wanted to transmit, and Grosvenor’s interpretation makes it palpable to us. The incredible romantic maturity in which the artists perform the E minor is full of passion that flows through all the piece and goes straight to the listeners’ hearts. 

At the lead of the Scottish National, Elim Chan confirms his talent of attentive support, even if certain accents sometimes ring a little too rough. Nevertheless, this recording made in Glasgow places Grosvenor / Chan among the best modern versions of Chopin’s concertos.

– David Gutman