Rachmaninov: Piano Concertos Nos.2 & 3 – Khatia Buniatishvili

   in Piano International (Nov, 2017)
It was only a matter of time before Khatia Buniatishvili would record the two popular Rachmaninov concertos, and Sony’s release will be cause for either delight – to her many adulating fans – or dismay at yet another coupling (Presto Classical’s site lists 275 and 230 individual recordings respectively).

Immediate gratification is the most notable feature of Buniatishvili’s interpretations, led by her undeniably phenomenal keyboard technique. But flashy brilliance and the ability to curl one’s fingers around every note does not guarantee depth of musical response, and this last quality is often subordinated to display in Buniatishvili’s peformances. While Rachmaninov’s concertos are designed for virtuoso display there is music here, too, …