[ Deutsche Grammophon / CD ]
Release Date: Friday 28 February 2025
Seong-Jin Cho opens the Ravel Year 2025 with his most ambitious project to date for Deutsche Grammophon: to mark the French composer's 150th birthday, the Korean star pianist is releasing three Ravel albums between January and May.
In this second release, Seong-Jin Cho presents Ravel's two piano concertos together with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Andris Nelsons. In the Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, M82, and the Piano Concerto in G major, M83, Cho's sensitive Ravel interpretations underline his status as one of the most elegant and accomplished pianists of our time - ten years after his victory in the Chopin Competition.
It is not without reason that Scherzo named Cho "perhaps the finest Ravel interpreter of our time", while after his Edinburgh Festival recital, The Scotsman wrote, "With what seemed like impossibly perfect precision, the first half of all Ravel heard Cho in a contrasting and extensive range of colour, coupled with a sense of flow that allowed the music to breathe with ease and warmth."
"..it is definitely a worthy addition to any Ravel lover's collection" - The Classic Review
"Let me say at once that these are on the whole well played performances of both concertos. Seong-Jin Cho is an awesome talent. Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra provide a luxurious accompaniment, honed in live performances in Boston before the recording was made." - MusicWeb
"The recorded sound is extremely good. The piano sound is rich and firm but also crystal clear. The orchestra is recorded with great presence and the overall sound of soloist and orchestra has great impact." - MusicWeb
Piano Concerto in D major for the left hand
Piano Concerto in G major