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Benjamin Grosvenor with RSNO under Elim Chan play to Chopin's natural strengths / The Scotsman

"Put all your soul into it, play the way you feel!" Pianist Benjamin Grosvenor has taken these words by Chopin completely to heart in these distinctive, compelling performances of both Chopin piano concertos with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and its principal guest conductor Elim Chan. The E minor Concerto opens in a wash of summery radiance, the strings superheated and heartfelt, from which the woodwind solos emerge soulfully, followed by a first triumphant flourish from Grosvenor, releasing floods of effortless poetic diversion. Beyond that the enchanting timelessness of the Romance, the closing Rondo's virile playfulness, and the dazzling virtuosity of the F minor Concerto unfold with breathtaking rapture. Chan's subtle and inspired colouring of Chopin's infamously unchallenging orchestral scores rather challenges that assumption. She and Grosvenor play entirely to the music's natural strengths.      Ken Walton

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