a superb pianist at the height of their powers [...] teamed to a conductor with whom they seem to have instinctive rapport...there's drama aplenty in the big first movement of the [Second] Concerto. Nelsons secures some delightfully pointed orchestral playing in No. 1's finale, and really creates the restorative calm of No. 2's slow movement.
Grimaud's second recording of the First sounds a tad less youthful, a tad more disciplined [than her first], but the balance between those two elements remains truly inspired...The Vienna Philharmonic...are a truly imposing force right from the opening...her results [in Op. 83] end up being no less monumental.
judged on their own merits, [the performances] are outstanding: by turns, majestic, passionate, tender and dramatic... Grimaud?s slow movement is the highlight of the whole recording...The orchestral playing and direction, so crucial in these works, is exemplary as would be expected from two of the world?s great orchestras and one of the new generation of fine conductors.
Throughout the CD, both conductor and soloist love to crawl when Brahms gives them half a chance. But they also grab the coin?s opposite side and sprint with tremendous vim through the second concerto?s finale...Either way, Grimaud and Nelsons have made their mark.