Interview
Hélène Grimaud and Tugan Sokhiev in conversation with Emmanuel Pahud Ravel’s Piano Concerto with Hélène Grimaud and Tugan Sokhiev
Maurice Ravel’s G major Piano Concerto is a world in itself. Here there are echoes of jazz to be found as well as Stravinsky-like asperity and tender cantilenas. In 2009, Hélène Grimaud brought out the many facets of the work with consummate ease and sensitivity. Tugan Sokhiev, who made his conducting debut with the Berliner Philharmoniker in this concert, closed the evening with Sergei Rachmaninov’s melancholy Second Symphony.
Hélène Grimaud is a pianist whose repertoire has for some time included Ravel’s Piano Concerto. In this performance too, she underlined her standing as an exponent of Ravel, receiving high praise, including from the Berliner Zeitung: “Hélène Grimaud brings out the countless nuances of this music with brilliant security. Black gleaming bass notes, silvery shimmering smooth passages and, in between, heartbeats with a hint of melodic indulgence glow warmly.”
Making his first appearance with the orchestra was Ossetian-born conductor, Tugan Sokhiev, musical director of the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse. In addition to the Ravel concerto, he also conducts two Liszt transcriptions by Heinz Holliger plus Rachmaninov’s melancholy Second Symphony.
Berliner Philharmoniker
Tugan Sokhiev
Hélène Grimaud
© 2010 Berlin Phil Media GmbH
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