Koncerty (Grieg, Ravel, Prokofjev) - CD

This CD presents previously unreleased live recordings from the Czech Radio archive featuring pianist Ivan Moravec in piano concertos by Edvard Grieg, Maurice Ravel and Sergei Prokofiev. The performances include Grieg’s Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16, with the Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Miklós Erdélyi; Ravel’s Piano Concerto in G major, with the Prague Symphony Orchestra conducted by Yuri Simonov; and Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat major, Op. 10, with the Czech Philharmonic conducted by Karel Ančerl. Moravec, one of the great pianistic legends of the 20th century, is heard in concert performances recorded in Prague. Prokofiev’s concerto, recorded at the Prague Spring festival in May 1967, captures one of Karel Ančerl’s outstanding late recordings with the Czech Philharmonic before his departure for Toronto. The Ravel performance from May 1974 is another memorable experience, while the Grieg concerto from December 1984 is Moravec’s only issued recording of the work. The microphones capture him at the height of his powers, combining romantic breadth, precision, drive and subtly nuanced colour with profound immersion in the music.