Shostakovich - Piano Concerto nos. 1 & 2. Piano Quintet
Helmchen; LPO / Jurowski
LPO LPO-0053

Release date April 2011

The London Philharmonic Orchestra’s own label goes from strength to strength with the issue of Shostakovich’s two piano concertos and the Piano Quintet. The LPO recorded the concertos live in 2009 and the resulting CD deserves serious consideration. One recording of these concertos in particular has been a catalogue staple for some time – that with Dmitri Alexeev and the English Chamber Orchestra, made in the early 1980s. More recently, Martha Argerich’s performance from the Lugano Festival of Piano Concerto no. 1 and the Quintet has been providing some stiff competition. Here, the LPO (conducted by Vladimir Jurowski) and pianist Martin Helmchen offer an interpretation of Piano Concerto no. 1 which starts off considerably slower than the Alexeev version. However, as the first movement progresses, Helmchen gradually increases his tempo and creates a thrilling feeling of urgency. Overall, I prefer the sense of immediacy that both Helmchen and Argerich bring to the first concerto. Both are live performances and no doubt that has added to the effect but I find the interpretation of the ECO and Alexeev just a little too polite by comparison. Similarly, Piano Concerto no. 2 comes across as sharper than Alexeev’s rendition when in the hands of the LPO and Helmchen. The addition of the Piano Quintet (a personal favourite of mine) adds to the appeal of this new disc. The sound created by the individual voices in the quintet is all the more striking after hearing the fullness of the concertos. The Quintet, whilst achingly sparse at times (the fugal second movement, for example), can also be so rich that the ears forget how many instruments are involved. No matter how many recordings you may have of any of these works, this disc is a worthy addition to the shelf!

Reviewed by Ruth Squire