Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16

“This music is wonderfully inventive, and Farrell brings out all the poetry and melancholy and humourin a performance that could hardly be bettered.” Gramophone Magazine, April 1959 (on Grieg’s Ballade)

“I enjoyed his playing very much, for he has what is today the rare virtue of being able to play slowly. Though he often tosses off quick passages at conventional speeds (and he has plenty of technique), he always plays slow movements and slow sections of movements considerably slower than almost every other pianist listed above. And yet he is neither sentimental nor dull ; his playing, on the contrary, is movingly contemplative and poetic.” Gramophone Magazine, July 1957 (on the Grieg Piano Concerto)

“…a modern version of Schumann's Piano Concerto that actually sounds like Schumann. Howard Shelley's performance is refreshingly free from empty showmanship or narcissistic 'pianism'. The Grieg and Saint-Saëns concertos are also full of lovely things, especially the slow movement coda for the Grieg - this music can touch without being the slightest bit sentimental or oversweet.” BBC Music Magazine, July 2009 *****

“Outstanding performances” Classic FM Magazine, February 2012

“What a good idea to add to that favourite among LP couplings Saint-Saëns's most Bachian concerto, No 2. And the pleasure doesn't stop there.
Howard Shelley is one of those musicians who quietly goes about his pianistic (and now conductorly) business without grabbing the limelight except for the odd award, but who is consistently impressive, unfailingly musical and only goes into the studio when he has something to say about a work. That is certainly the case here.
It's a particular delight to hear a reading odf the Schumann as fleet and joyous as this one.
These are intimate performances, an effect no doubt enhanced by the fact that Shelley directs from the piano. Intimate but also sharply characterised.
And when virtuosity is required, Shelley provides it in spades. Take the finale of the Schumann: textures are wonderfully transparent, the dotted rhythms are perky and precise, and there are plenty of striking colours from the orchestra (which throughout the disc proves itself a fine ensemble, with some particularly outstanding wind-players).
Shelley is just as persuasive in the Grieg, coaxing from the orchestra a real sense of narrative, some lovely oboe-playing and allowing the big tunes due space but never over-indulging them.
The concerto's irresistible yearning quality is well caught too, particularly in the central movement, where he is almost a match for Lipatti. Again, tempi are generally fleet, and Shelley pays attention both to the marcato marking of the finale and its folk tinges without overstatement. These are certainly performances to put alongside the classics.
Technically, the Saint-Saëns is an ideal vehicle for Shelley's fingery kind of pianism and he is exceptional in the Allegro scherzando, the movement that out-Mendelssohns Mendelssohn.
Again, the orchestra is utterly focused. The recorded quality here, as elsewhere, is exemplary.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“These are intimate performances, an effect no doubt enhanced by the fact that Shelley directs from the piano. Intimately but also sharply characterised. And when virtuosity is required, Shelley provides it in spades. Technically, the Saint-Saëns is an ideal vehicle for Shelley's fingery kind of pianism and he is exceptional in the Allegro scherzando, the movement that our-Mendelssohns Mendelssohn.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2009

“It was the Grieg Concerto that first made the name of Leif Ove Andsnes on disc in 1990. The interpretation remains broadly the same, except that speeds are now rather brisker. However many times he's performed the Grieg, Andsnes retains a freshness and expressiveness that always sounds spontaneous.
That inspirational quality is more markedly perceptible with the new version's faster tempos, but the expressive flights remain just as broad. In that contrast, he's firmly supported by Jansons and the Berlin Philharmonic, with playing not just refined but dramatic too in fiercely exciting tuttis. Schumann's cello melodies are gloriously warm, with textures in both works admirably clear, and Andsnes fully responds to Schumann's espressivo and ritardando requests.
Though both Stephen Kovacevich and Murray Perahia are equally spontaneous, they tend not to be quite so free in their expressive flights; EMI's finely balanced digital sound and the playing of the Berlin Philharmonic are also in this version's favour. Andsnes also offers slightly faster basic speeds than his rivals; particularly enjoyable is the free-flowing tempo for the central Andantino grazioso of the Schumann, which you'd never mistake for a simple Andante.” Gramophone Classical Music Guide, 2010

“His virtuosity is commanding but it is never at the expense of tenderness and poetic feeling. The performane, recorded live in Berlin, is ever spontaneous-sounding with soaring flights of the imagination.” Penguin Guide, 2011 edition

“Andsnes is an aristocrat among pianists who has the gift of uncovering new depths without any loss of spontaneity of the slightest trace of artifice.” BBC Music Magazine, December 2007 *****

“How hard it is to over-praise the vitality and distinction of this princely pianist… His authority and finesse are total. Finely recorded, this disc is the best possible introduction to Grieg's range and character in his piano music.” Gramophone Magazine, December 2007

“The 21-year old Andsnes stripped these concertos of superfluous glitter. But although these performances exude poetic freshness they are at times too reserved. His later Grieg with Jansons is preferable. The Lyric Pieces are characterful.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2007 ****