The well-known Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor and the lesser-known Szymanowski Symphony No. 4 (Sinfonia Concertante) are an appropriate albeit unusual combination. Both composers were highly nationalistic and responsible at least in some part for the renaissance of classical music in their respective countries of Norway and Poland. Pianist
Alfredo Perl's performance of the Grieg concerto, however, would do little to rouse patriotism or esprit de corps of Norwegians or any other listeners. Plagued by too much sentimentalism, this performance lacks any real excitement or drive. The two outer movements are rather slow and lethargic, and the finale in particular lacks the rhythmic vitality that characterizes more stirring renditions. The Szymanowski relies much more heavily on the orchestral component, and the composer's treatment of the ensemble is much more elaborate and complex. Some of the contrapuntal intricacies are lost to a muddy and at times ill-balanced orchestra (the
Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria lead by
Adrian Leaper).
Perl's performance in the Szymanowski, though, is much more convincing and lively, but his playing isn't always adequately aggressive to cut through the very dense orchestral counterpart. The Szymanowski doesn't ever seem to drag as the Grieg did, and the finale gives listeners a true agitato.