The Best of Grieg including the Piano Concerto in A minor

I am always a little wary about classical music CDs bearing "Best of" titles. They make me think of those sad "Bach's Greatest Hits" and "Best of Mozart" LPs from the 70s, with pop-art covers and featuring a collection of disembodied movements. So I bought this CD with relatively low expectations.It was really meant to fill a gap in my collection. I have listened to a great deal of Grieg's music over the years – the Am Piano Concerto is one of the great warhorses – but my tastes have tended toward the baroque and the modern, rather than nationalist late-romanticism. I really wanted a recording of the Holberg Suite, however, and at the price this CD – with its hodgepodge of Peer Gynt, the concerto, and the rest – seemed to do the trick. The plan was to fill the gap temporarily, and then shop around for a "better" collection if I really liked the Holberg as much as I thought I did.It turned out that, as much as this set might be a hodge-podge with a lousy title, The Best of Grieg is very, very good. The performance of the Holberg Suite by Raymond Leppard and the English Chamber Orchestra is note-perfect. It conveys both the cool classicism that Grieg sought to evoke from "the time of Holberg," along with the kind of Scandinavian-passion-breaking-through that one finds in some of Ibsen's late works. Leppard and the ECO are equally adept with the Lyric Pieces and the Peer Gynt suites.The Piano Concerto is all fire and virtuosity in the hands of Stephen Kovacevich, a pianist to whom I had rarely given much thought. Sir Colin Davis's BBC Symphony Orchestra provides a fine accompaniment. If I have a complaint, it is just that – the orchestra is the backdrop rather than a full partner. On the other hand, this is MEANT to be a showcase for the soloist, so perhaps Sir Colin's approach is the right one.The big surprise was Zoltán Kocsis interpretation of the Op. 12 Lyric Pieces and the Em Piano Sonata. I have long admired Kocsis' deft touch and sympathetic reading of Bartok, and his Grieg is all that. The Grieg solo piano pieces are often touching, sometimes rapturous, and most often introspective. They remind me of Chopin's Nocturnes and Impromptus filtred through Brahms. Kocsis does fine work with them.

Excellent experience.

Beautiful music that I remembered from my childhood--old 78 rpm records. The concerto I danced to with other girls. We wore short white togas, one-shouldered, with white tights. It was a lovely presentation. So many memories! I owe it all to my mother who bought classical music for me to enjoy when I was a little girl! This is a lovely set of 2 CD's.

To begin with I love the music. Superbly performed.

The Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor is one of my all time favorite concertos, and the rest of the two-disk set offers many excellent renditions of Grieg's work.This is a set I can listen to over and over - plenty of variety, and it does seem to be a "best of" collection.

I recently attended a concert by the Columbus (OH) Symphony Orchestra including some of Grieg's work. The concert was so enjoyable that I ordered this CD when I got home. The CD is in very good condition and allows me to enjoy the music again at my convenience.

Sad to report this. I purchased these CD's in November and failed to test them when they came in. I have been listening to classical CD's all morning and discovered this unopened packaged on my shelf. AH! Grieg...what a wonderful way to end the morning. Nope. I retested the machine to be sure it was working. It was. I checked the CD's to see if there was dust on them. Nope. SO......I will write Amazon and the 3rd Party Agent and Report this but.....beware. Where one is bad....others are likely fo follow. Always willing to give a vendor another try and I should have tested them right away....so my fault. Caveat Emptor. I have to say that Amazon Customer Service was excellent.....despite my being beyond the return date......based on my history with them, a second set was sent....Great....BUT...the same problem. Obviously there is a significant manufacturer issue.

Was so happy to find my favorite Piano Concerto. In moving my other CD was lost so now I can listen and enjoy this music once again.

Has all the favourites and performed well, a good purchase of you like Greig or if you haven't, it is nice easy listening.

everyone enjoys and appreciates Grieg`s piano concerto BUT listen to the Lyric pieces and Peer Gynt...masterpieces waiting to be loved and cherished..Great value and an outstanding double disc set.

Cd in excellent condition. A great purchase.

Quick arrival. Lovely CD.

Bonnes interprétations pour pas cher.