Prokofiev: Piano Concertos Nos. 2 & 4 / Overture on Hebrew Themes
This is the Prokofiev concerto cycle for the digital age.  Yefim Bronfman relishes every steely flourish of this brilliant and angular  music. His performance of the Second Concerto, Prokofiev's best but not most  popular, really does achieve transcendent greatness. The first movement features  a "cadenza from hell"--a solo section comprising almost half the  movement--that has to be heard to be believed. Bronfman flies through it,  fingers sweeping the keyboard to the point where you fear for the health of his  piano. The Fourth Concerto is for left hand only and is the least well known of  the five. Bronfman makes the best possible case for it, and the charming  overture is a delightful bonus.--David Hurwitz