Let me say straight away that this performance of Grieg's Piano Concerto is for many people, including myself, the outstanding account of this lovable work––although there are others of nearly equal distinction. In the 1975 edition of The Penguin Stereo Record Guide it was described as having ''bravura and refinement, the spontaneity of the music-making bringing a sparkle throughout'', and I readily concur with that opinion, having chosen it some years ago as a best buy in the BBC Radio 3's series, ''Building a Library'' and more recently complained that people wishing to have it had to pay full price. But that is no longer the case, and if you are looking for a superb version of the Concerto with a recording that doesn't sound its age, you need look no further. But the first disc here begins with other music.
Raymond Leppard's performances with the ECO of Grieg's suites of incidental music to Peer Gynt, have an affectionate refinement matched by the recording. However, both ''Morning'' and ''In the Hall of the Mountain King'' fail to take off, the latter lacking sheer physical excitement until near the end. I've also heard more seductive performances of ''Anitra's Dance'' although the playing has great finesse––as it also has in ''Solveig's Song'', with the ECO violins on excel-lent form. However, I have no complaints about Leppard's performances of the Lyric Suite (originally piano music), the Holberg Suite and the less familiar Symphonic Dances. Besides all this, Zoltan Kocsis gives us 14 of the Lyric Pieces, miniatures for solo piano which are charmingly done. This mid-price package is ideal for anyone wanting a single issue representing Grieg's best-known music.'