Ravel: Piano Concertos

   in Piano International (Jan, 2016)
Yuja Wang made her made her European debut with the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, so this disc of Ravel and solo Faure (Wang’s first all-French album) holds some documentary value as well as offering fine performances. The major problem, it turns out, comes from the engineers: the orchestra is placed too far back in both concertos. A shame, as there is clear rapport between Wang and her conductor Lionel Bringuier and, despite the placing, it is clear that orchestral balance and detail is carefully considered.

In the G major (up against the likes of Michelangeli and Zimerman, of course), Wang acquits herself well, with perfect trills, so important in the first two …