More Expressive

I have heard only the mono disc (but the stereo version is due for release soon) and my particular copy had a troublesome amount of crackle through the first minutes of the A major concerto Fault I doubt will be encountered in other pressings.

Ravel. Piano Concerto in G Major. Shostakovich. Piano Concerto No. 2, opus 101 . Leonard Bernstein conducting the New York Philharmonic Orchestra (Shostakovich) and the Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Ravel), the conductor as piano soloist. Coronet KLCS 2746 (Stereo).

The fact that Bernstein conducts the orchestra as well as plays the solos is, of course, of little moment in itself. What is Important is that the orchestral ensemble shouldn't get out of hand while he is playing himself I don't know whether to hand ii to the orchestras for their professionalism (in being able to play without a conductor) or to for having drilled them so well. Whatever the reason, one's worries on that score are settled the first time through. Though the trumpet player of the CBS has some difficult moments in the opening movement of the Ravel G Major, there are no false entries, out of touch ensembles or sloppy phrasing in either work.