I didn't look for any biographical note about Helene Grimaud before listening to the Sonata No. 2, but after only a few bars my curiosity was roused—even then I found it difficult to switch my attention from the music to reading something about her. This is playing with a masterly authority, an expansive technical command and a real feeling for Rachmaninov's dark harmonic world. Helene Grimaud has the keenest possible ear for finished phrasing, with none of that self-conscious lingering that one often associates with 'romantic' piano playing. She is 15 years old.
The finale of the sonata, which she plays in the revised version, does perhaprs slightly sacrifice overall effect in the interests of textural clarity, but her generous spirit, combined with spine-tingling virtuosity in the coda of the finale, contribute to giving the impression of a live performance.
The Etudes-tableaux are no less successful. The ardency of youth brings this music to life in a way that makes many performances by well-seasoned virtuosos sound a trifle jaded. I would choose the E flat minor and G minor Etudes from Op. 33 as being of the highest technical calibre, and in the B flat minor Prelude she fully appreciates the eccentricities within the Rachmaninov style. The CD presents well-focused slightly backward sound in a relatively dry acoustic. This is one disc I have no reservations whatsoever in recommending.'