Having risen to, and recorded, many of the piano repertoire’s biggest challenges, the ever-questing Hélène Grimaud sought out the composer, producer and performer Nitin Sawhney to curate this 2016 album, inspired by water. It scoops up many of the greatest 19th- and 20th-century portrayals of it, with music by Liszt, Ravel, Fauré, Albéniz (a particularly delicious “Almería”), Janáček, Takemitsu and Berio, all linked by interludes composed and produced by Sawhney. As a concept album, Water was trailblazing, showcasing two artists of imagination in a programme that broke the traditional mould and ushered in a new approach to themed classical programmes.
Featured On
- Khatia Buniatishvili
- Alexandre Tharaud
- Sol Gabetta & Amsterdam Sinfonietta
- Jean-Guihen Queyras, Isabelle Faust & Alexander Melnikov