Stephen Coombs, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Ronald Corp - Pierné: Piano Concertos (Hyperion Romantic Piano Concerto 34) (2003)

Tracklist

01. Piano Concerto in C Minor, Op. 12: I. Allegro
02. Piano Concerto in C Minor, Op. 12: II. Scherzando
03. Piano Concerto in C Minor, Op. 12: III. Final
04. Poëme symphonique in D Minor, Op. 37
05. Fantaisie-Ballet in B-Flat Major, Op. 6
06. Scherzo-Caprice in D Major, Op. 25

There are three premiere recordings on this charming disc of the complete music for piano and orchestra by the unaccountably neglected Gabriel Pierné.

In his time Pierné was hugely successful as composer, conductor and organist—a sort of latter-day Saint-Saëns, and indeed his music is very reminiscent of that composer. The earliest three works on this CD were all written between 1885 and 1890 and could easily be mistaken for the older composer, the piano concerto even follows the unusual layout of Saint-Saëns' 2nd piano concerto in having a scherzo but no slow movement. The Poëme symphonique of 1903 is harmonically more daring and reminiscent of Franck. This work is a true orchestral symphonic poem with the piano fully integrated into the musical argument, it is also perhaps the most impressive work on this disc and its obscurity is inexplicable.

A disc full of surprises, all of them pleasant!

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