Nelson Goerner, Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo, Kazuki Yamada

by Vlad Bourceanu

I intend this article to be the first of a series of recommendations of newly-released recordings.

I will carefully pick one newly-released album which I think is worth listening to (hoping to do so once a week), and try to explain why I think that is.

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This first week’s choice was a particularly difficult one. There were many new releases, which shall remain un-named, competing for my attention. However, I have eventually opted for a plethora of wonderful French Romantic, so-called Impressionist musical works (all of them by Maurice Ravel), brought together into one album by pianist Nelson Goerner, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Monte Carlo and conductor Kazuki Yamada.

I chose this album simply because this music speaks to me on more of an emotional level than the works on the other newly-released albums I was able to choose from, this week … and, of course, because the performance of these works, on this album, is quite superb.

​YOUTUBE ALBUM LINK HERE​

Nelson Goerner is equally at home in the more virtuosic side of Ravel, as in his more tender moments. The 2nd movement of the Piano Concerto in G Major, in particular, showcases Maestro Goerner at his most sensitive, with the Monegasque orchestra and the superb conductor Kazuki Yamada distinguishing themselves. In this concerto, in fact, as well as in the famous, jazzy Piano Concerto for the Left Hand (which followed the Valses Nobles et Sentimentales, in this album), the performances are truly superlative from all concerned; the tempi never too fast, nor too rushed, as can sometimes be the case in these pieces by Ravel. The Allegro movement of this concerto, with its somewhat sarcastic rhythms, harmonies and contrasting dynamics, brought to life so well by all the musicians involved, was a particular highlight of the whole album, for me.

The solo piano Valses Nobles et Sentimentales are also a true joy to listen to, with Maestro Goerner guiding us through a somewhat surreal, yet deeply spiritual journey through Ravel’s sound world, each moment of these contrasting works a droplet of clear water through which we can just about glimpse eternity.

The Pavane Pour Une Infante Défunte acts as a closing encore to this album. Maestro Goerner, alone once more at the piano, gives us a masterclass in musical sensitivity and tonal balance. Though his tone be direct, it is never too aggressive; rather, the beauty of each note is exquisitely brought out in each perfectly-envisaged musical phrase. A true lesson, to all of us, of what it is to be interpreting great music, greatly.