Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major in Building a Library with Yshani Perinpanayagam and Andrew McGregor

Andrew McGregor with the best new recordings of classical music.

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Ben Gernon selects his choice of the best new releases

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Yshani Perinpanayagam picks her favourite recording of Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major.

Following its successful premiere at the Salle Pleyel in Paris in 1932, by the pianist Marguerite Long, Ravel's Piano Concerto in G major quickly toured across multiple European and American destinations, and became an instant hit. After attended the work's debut, the critic Émile Vuillermoz praised Ravel for his profound invention’ and ‘freshness of inspiration’, and yet the composer appears to have taken the concerti of Mozart and Saint-Saens as a structural model, even declaring that the concluding movement was conceived 'in accordance with the most immutable traditions'. Ravel's shimmering orchestration, deployment of instrumental effects, and jazz-inflected harmonies, nevertheless, belie the innovative spirit with which he imbued the work.

Recommended recording:
Krystian Zimerman (piano)
Cleveland Orchestra
Pierre Boulez (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 449 213-2

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Record of the Week: Andrew’s top pick.

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