Bavouzet, Tortelier, Sao Paulo Orchestra

Stravinsky: Concerto For Piano And Wind, etc

(Chandos)

There are two immediate attractions in this superlative all-Stravinsky Chandos recording featuring the stunning pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet, everybody's flavour-of-the-month pianist, and a compellingly thoughtful musician. The first is that it is so good to witness the steady rise to universal acclaim of Brazil's finest orchestra, the Sao Paulo, paralleled, incidentally, by the equal rise of the Bergen Philharmonic, another orchestra championed by Chandos. And the second immediate attraction is to have a superstar pianist detaching himself from his usual front-of-stage, high-profile role and immersing himself in the belly of the orchestra for Petrushka, which here ignites a blazingly powerful performance of the great ballet score from all forces. And clearly Bavouzet is so overwhelmed by the experience that he lets his relish spill over into a personal note in the album booklet. Fabulous performances also of the Concerto For Piano And Wind, the Capriccio and the tougher wee Movements from the late 1950s.

Michael Tumelty