Schuman Piano Concerto; Strauss Burleske

Hélène Grimaud, piano; Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, David Zinman, conductor

Erato CD “The Erato Story” series

The Burleske for solo piano and orchestra has felled more than one pianist. Strauss had quite a challenging time finding a pianist to premiere it. It is a gloriously thrilling finger-buster, though; one can readily see why pianists persist in programming it. Earlier this year, I heard Emmanuel Ax play it with the Nashville Symphony. It was a brilliant and exciting performance. When I got this CD, I wondered if it could measure up to the high standard set by Ax.

In this reissue of a 1995 disc on the Erato label, part of a series called “The Erato Story” that celebrates the label’s history, Hélène Grimaud appears with the Deutsches Symphonie Orchester Berlin, conducted by David Zinman. Grimaud avoids the temptation – and trap – of playing the Burleske like a barnstormer. She is fleet-fingered, her fast passages taking on a delightfully mercurial quality. Where power is required, it is there, but more often the pianist makes us feel like there is easiness to passages that are anything but. Grimaud’s Schumann is surefooted as well, with energetic playing, supple phrasing, and myriad dynamic hues. Zinman leads an enthusiastic-sounding ensemble with great assuredness, letting them soar when called upon to do so but never at the expense of overwhelming Grimaud’s playing.