Avie AV 2192

Rachmaninoff: Piano Concertos Nos 2 and 3 – Simon Trpceski, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Petrenko

‘On one of the occasions when I was listening to this disc I read through a pair of essays, one on each of the two concertos, by the late Michael Steinberg, from which I’ve already quoted. Towards the end of his essay on the Third Concerto Steinberg has this to say: “As in the Second Concerto, Rachmaninov sees the soloist not merely as someone who can sing soulfully and thunder imposingly, but as an alert, flexible, responsive musician who knows how to listen, blend and accompany.” I’d say that in both of these performances Simon Trpceski fits the bill admirably. I certainly wouldn’t dismiss the Hough recordings – he’s far too able and thoughtful a pianist for that – but my preference is for this new Trpceski coupling. A follow-up disc of the First and Fourth Concertos together with the ‘Paganini’ Rhapsody is on the way from Avie and that’s eagerly awaited. For now, however, this present disc is a fine achievement, which I’ve enjoyed immensely.’

John Quinn, Music Web International