Hélène Grimaud (piano)

Rachmaninov: Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
Ravel: Piano Concerto in G major (Excerpt)
Gershwin: Piano Concerto in F Major: III. Allegro agitato
Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 4 in G Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato
Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, Op. 15: III. Allegro non troppo
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 30 in E major, Op. 109 (Excerpt)
Brahms: Fantasies (7 piano pieces), Op. 116 (Excerpt )
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 31 in A flat major, Op. 110 (Excerpt )
Brahms: 3 Piano Pieces, Op. 117: II. Intermezzo in B-Flat Minor
Brahms: 6 Piano Pieces, Op. 118: III. Ballade in G Minor
Brahms: 4 Piano Pieces, Op. 119: III. Intermezzo in C Major
Schumann: Piano Concerto in A Minor, Op. 54: I. Allegro affettuoso

Hélène Grimaud's particular fascination with the music of German composers - from Beethoven, the father of musical Romanticism, through Schumann and Brahms to the late Romanticism of Strauss - is reflected in this 2-CD set, which also embraces music by Rachmaninov, Ravel and Gershwin. A pianist who combines intellectual and philosophical rigour with a readiness to take risks as she strives for expressive freedom, Grimaud is motivated by a profound personal belief in the power of music: "Music changed my life - it gave me a sense of purpose and direction. It saved me."