Michel Legrand: Concerto Pour Piano – Michel Legrand

   in Piano International (Sep, 2017)
An intriguing album from octogenarian Michel Legrand, an artist perhaps better known in the field of jazz or film music (he is a multiple Oscar winner). His piano concerto was written for the Gilmore International Keyboard Festival and was composed for Legrand himself as soloist. Sony’s recording for the orchestra is excellent but the piano lacks depth. The expressive language is mixed: the helter-skelter first movement gives way to an extended central section that tends towards the harmonically indulgent and runs out of steam; the finale, too, while well scored, lacks life. The Cello Concerto is a better piece: lush, imaginatively scored, it is given a tremendously present performance by Demarquette. …