Graham Rickson of The Arts Desk reviews Garrick Ohlsson, Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra, and Sir Donald Runnicles’ Complete Beethoven Piano Concertos recording:

“the results are impressive even by this label’s high standards. There’s a palpable bloom and warmth to the sound, Ohlsson’s deft rhythmic sense ensuring that things never feel complacent. Take the effervescent finale to the first concerto, the interplay between orchestral winds and soloist perfectly judged. Concerto No. 2 is another treat, with ear-tickling string playing in the introduction, Runnicles showing us Beethoven’s debt to Mozart while hinting at where he’d end up as a mature composer – some of the harmonic gear changes still sound startling.

Concerto No. 3 is a very different beast, Runnicles and Ohlsson relishing the first movement’s grandeur without sacrificing the wit. It’s difficult not to smile at Ohlsson’s playing at the start of the development section, or at the way Runnicles gets his flute, oboe and bassoon soloists to sing out over the piano line…

I’ve never found No. 5 as interesting as its two predecessors, but there’s much to enjoy in this performance: time stands still in Ohlsson’s slow movement and the 6/8 finale skips along, timpani nicely audible before the final bars. As a bonus, there’s the overture to The Creatures of Prometheus. My new favourite Beethoven Piano Concertos set, then. Do investigate – it might become yours too.”

—Graham Rickson, The Arts Desk

See the full review at TheArtsDesk.com