The coupling of the Grieg and Schumann piano concertos was long dominated by the virtually ideal partnership of Stephen Kovacevich and Colin Davis; a new pairing arrived when Leif Ove Andsnes was joined by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Mariss Jansons, which had the advantage of more modern sound. But, like Andsnes, Janne Mertanen’s bravura is also commanding, as, more importantly, are his tenderness and spontaneous poetic response. This certainly applies in the very familiar Grieg work, with sparkling outer movements and a touching Nordic Adagio.

The Gävle Symphony Orchestra conducted by Hannu Koivula also play gloriously and have an initial advantage in that the recording is multichannel, warm, full and very well balanced, with a truthful piano image, which applies whether one plays the disc on SACD equipment or an ordinary stereo system. There is also an excellent note by Bryce Morrison, who offers historical background but also ventures an opinion on the quality of the Schumann performance. He suggests an assessment, with which I fully agree (and which I hope he won’t mind me quoting), that the partnership of Mertanen, Koivula and this fine orchestra ‘is filled with a sense of wonder, of first love. Everything is given with a living and breathing romantic impulse, is essentially “live”, and you will sense a special warmth and spontaneity from Janne Mertanen.’

The first movement is certainly fully romantic, the playing is freshly poetic, the ‘question and answer’ Intermezzo is also most delicately played and the finale has great zest and unforced virtuosity. Incidentally, the engaging little theme that reappears in that last movement (written across the bar-lines), is played with an attractively unforced, bouncing lift. All in all, this is a most impressive new arrival and maybe a first choice for many, although Andsnes is perhaps not surpassed.