Prokofiev: Piano Concertos

French pianist Jean-Efflam Bavouzet is a light-fingered Prokofievian, and his orientation towards clarity rather than weight is shared by his conducting partner, Gianandrea Noseda. Their Prokofiev is often leaner sounding than the norm. The internal churning of the first concerto, for instance, is downplayed in favour of the brilliant glitter of the surface. These performances are graced with plenty of fresh perspectives, with musical details often left in the shade brought clearly into view. They're also well enough manicured that to have, at times, something of the effect of a calorie-light version of an indulgent dish – interesting, even intriguing, but not always quite gutsy enough. url.ie/f1f2