Ravel: Piano Concertos by Nelson Goerner, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo and Kazuki Yamada

Released on 19/09/2025 by Alpha Classics
Main artists: Nelson Goerner Orchestre Philharmonique de Monté-Carlo Kazuki Yamada
Genre: Classical

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Each one of Nelson Goerner’s new recordings should be enjoyed like ripe fruit, since the Argentine pianist only records works that he has refined at length in concert before acquiescing to capture them permanently for commercial release. This new album devoted to Maurice Ravel arrives at the fitting occasion of the composer’s 150th anniversary. The phrase “sonic alchemy” has often been used to describe the meticulous care with which Ravel orchestrated his works. He never hesitated to add difficulties and challenges for eventual performers: the tricky chromatic ascent of the oboe in the “Concerto in G”, or the trumpet’s vibrato passages inspired by Ravel’s discoveries in America with his friend Gershwin, not to mention the notorious bassoon passage or even the great harp solo. This rhythmic and instrumental complexity is rendered with exquisite finesse here by the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte-Carlo under Kazuki Yamada’s meticulous direction, harmonising perfectly with Nelson Goerner’s delicate and imaginative piano as he reaches the heights of inspiration.

Ravel didn’t spare the pianists either; especially not on the marvelous “Adagio” of the same concerto, with its contradictory writing for the two hands in a style owing as much to Bach as to Mozart, featuring a gentle cantilena beautifully taken up by the solo English horn. Nelson Goerner makes the piano sing and sparkle, classical and jazzy at once in his playful yet limpid style. A complete change of tone follows with the almost expressionist “Concerto for the Left Hand”, though it was written at the same time as the former. The atmosphere here is that of a heavy, bleak, and pessimistic film noir. Once again, the pianist, conductor, and orchestra align perfectly and deliver a high-flying interpretation. Everyone moves as one up to the final catastrophe/catharsis, which is particularly striking. The recording also deserves particular praise for its superb sound quality, which presents a wide and clear image of the various sonic dimensions. Between the two concertos, Goerner unveils a treasure of dreamy poems in the “Valses nobles et sentimentales” and in the “Pavane pour une infante défunte”, whose tempo moves along just the way Ravel wanted it to. This is one of the outstanding recordings amongst the many releases coming out to mark Ravel’s Year. © François Hudry/Qobuz

Ravel: Piano Concertos

Nelson Goerner

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Piano Concerto in G Major, M. 83: I. Allegramente