Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 – Nelson Goerner

   in Piano International (Jul, 2016)
Vadym Kholodenko’s most adventurous disc to date features works by two living composers: Evgeni Chaplygin’s Little Cyprian Music (2003) and Alexei Kurbatov’s Lost in Darkness (2014). Intriguing as these are, the main events are a nicely balanced account of Balakirev’s late Sonata, relaxed and fiery as needed, and a Tchaikovsky rarity, Six Pieces on a Single Theme (1873) – a mix of variation set and suite, encompassing prelude and fugue, impromptu, Dies irae-infused funeral march, mazurka and scherzo. The whole programme is splendidly played, with fine sound. The downloadable version includes Kholodenko’s transcription of Mahler’s Nachtmusik (Seventh Symphony) and Purcell’s Ground in C minor. …