The Romantic piano concerto - 1: Moszkowski & Paderewski (1991)

"This was the first assault by Hyperion on the sanctuary of the romantic piano concerto. The two works have the Polish nationality of their composers in common. The 37 minute Moskowski has been recorded before but has it ever been given such a raunchily rambunctious performance? This is not all stormy belligerence nor yet lofty heroics. Moskowski manages real depth rather than superficial prettiness in the andante. His style rustles and bumps along between Saint-Saens, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov as points of his compass. The Paderewski Concerto is even more Russian and romantic than the Moskowski with its forays into Hispanicism and pictorial asides. One wonders, when listening to the Allegro, whether Medtner had heard the work and echoed it in sections of his Sonata Romantica. It is intriguing to hear that Paderewski took his concerto to Saint-Saëns, who expressed himself reassuringly confident of its worth. This CD marks a great start to the series." (Rob Barnett, Musicweb Int.)