Music for Piano and Orchestra = BRITTEN: Young Apollo for piano & string orchestra; MILHAUD: Le Carnaval d’Aix; FINZI: Eclogue for piano & string orchestra; RICHARD STRAUSS: Orchestral Suite from “Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme” – Joshua Pierce, piano/ Slovak State Ch. Orch. Zilina/Slovak Radio Symphony Orch. of Bratislava/ Kirk Trevor – Kleos Classics KL5137, 69:03 ****:
The first thing which struck me about this CD was the creative and non-hackneyed programming; not your usual piano and orchestra disc. Next was the interpretive abilities of the fine pianist behind this CD, Joshua Pierce. He is expert at both standard repertory and contemporary music, but in addition he is a prolific performer who has built up a vast repertory of music which spans all of piano literature.
The first thing which struck me about this CD was the creative and non-hackneyed programming; not your usual piano and orchestra disc. Next was the interpretive abilities of the fine pianist behind this CD, Joshua Pierce. He is expert at both standard repertory and contemporary music, but in addition he is a prolific performer who has built up a vast repertory of music which spans all of piano literature.
While the Richard Strauss would be the most familiar work in this program, the other three deserve more hearings and attention than they have received. The two short works by British composers provide a taste of that country’s approach to music for piano and strings. The Milhaud of course demonstrates the French touch. It is subtitled a Fantasy for piano and orchestra, and has a dozen very short, dry movements with some wit. Wonder if the pianist was thinking back to his early piano instruction while he was playing the movement titled Le bon et le mauvais tuteur (The good and bad tutor)… Sonics are good and the Slovakian musicians are right on target. An altogether wonderful alternative to the endless Big Piano Concertos.
– John Sunier
