Piano Concerto in G major

Presto


  • Recorded: 25th May 1974
  • Record Place: The Smetana Hall of Municipal House, Prague
  • First Release: 2018
  • (P) 2018 Český rozhlas
  • Genre: Orchestral

Artists

  • music by: Maurice Ravel
  • piano: Ivan Moravec
  • conductor: Jurij Simonov
  • musical group: Prague Symphony Orchestra

Album

Ivan Moravec

Piano Concertos (Grieg, Ravel, Prokofiev)

Catalogue Number: SU 4245-2
Published: 20th April 2018
Genre: Orchestral
Format: 1 CD
Piano concerto in a minor op. 16 (1868), Maurice Ravel - Piano concerto in G major (1931), Sergei Prokofiev - Piano concerto No. 1 in D flat major op. 10 (1912)

Ivan Moravec - piano. Czech Philharmonic / Karel Ančerl (Prokofiev), Yuri Simonov (Ravel). Prague Symphony Orchestra / Miklós Erdélyi (Grieg)

The highly valued discography of Ivan Moravec (1930-2015), one of the 20th century piano legends, comes to a great extent from recording studios. However, thanks to radio microphones some of his remarkable concert performances in Prague concert halls could be retrieved as well. From 1962 on, he performed twenty times at the Prague Spring festival alone. He played Prokofiev's first concerto at the festival in May 1967 and the recording captures one of the top - and also one of the last - performances of Karel Ančerl with the Czech Philharmonic before his leaving for Toronto. The Ravel recording from May 1974 represents another unforgettable musical experience and no doubt also one of the best Ravel creations ever performed by Moravec. All three recordings are published for the first time; what is more, the one of the Grieg concert played in December 1984 is the only recording made public by the virtuoso pianist. Microphones have captured Ivan Moravec in his top shape, his play possessing romantic flight, ferocity and a wide range of timbre nuances on the one hand, and remarkable preciseness on the other. At every moment, Moravec is deeply sunk in the substance of the work he performs. By this threesome of recordings, Supraphon supplements the pianist's existing discography by unexpected gems found in the radio archives, undoubtedly pleasing all of his admirers.

Moravec's inconspicuous artistry on hitherto unpublished recordings.

Reviews

“This is distinguished and compelling piano playing, technically brilliant but never flashy. Moravec admirers will want to obtain these previously unknown recordings, but I think they could be of particular interest to those who have yet to acquire the taste, younger listeners in particular.”
MusicWeb International, August 2018

“Cette interprétation du Concerto no. 1 de Prokofiev aurait pourtant dû provoquer l’enthousiasme du public, torrent de lave emportant tout sur son passage, avec autant de puissance minérale et de pertinence dans les enchaînements que celle de Sviatoslav Richter avec le même Ančerl (Supraphon).”
Diapason, September 2018

“Le Concerto de Grieg, jamais enregistré en studio par Moravec, est le plus essentiel et révélateur par la somme de musique que parvient à en tirer ce «pianiste des pianistes», adulé par ses pairs. Le 3e mouvement, notamment, avec un tempo parfait et une pulsation optimale, devrait être érigé en modèle.”
Le Devoir, May 2018

“Toute la pudeur délicate de son art y chante, entre lumière et ombre, vraie merveille de ce disque, où on le trouvera avant tout musicien dans un Grieg parfait de style (mais lourd d’orchestre) et un Premier de Prokofiev délicieusement néo-classique, assorti d’une pointe d’humour, magnifiquement irrévérencieux et rendu plus piquant encore par la direction ironique de Karel Ančerl. Mais ne serait-ce que pour le sol de Ravel, ce disque est déjà impérissable.”
Artalinna, May 2018

Edvard Hagerup Grieg
Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
1. Allegro molto moderato 12:18
2. Adagio 06:13
3. Allegro moderato molto e marcato - Andante maestoso 10:07
Maurice Ravel
Piano Concerto in G major
4. Allegramente 08:44
5. Adagio assai 09:24
6. Presto 04:10
Sergei Prokofiev
Piano Concerto No. 1 in D flat major, Op. 10
7. Allegro brioso 06:46
8. Andante assai 04:02
9. Allegro scherzando 04:33