Robert Hamilton

This flat-out fabulous record contains an ingenious selection of repertoire: Nielsen and Ravel, the Danish modernist and the French impressionist, together for the first time. To open the disc, there's Nielsen's monumental Chaconne, one the greatest works in the form since Bach took it on. After it fades off into the ether, there's the balm of Ravel's Pavane pour une Infante défunte followed by the bite of Nielsen's Three Piano Pieces and the dread of Ravel's Le gibet. Then, after the respite of Nielsen's quirky Humoreske-Bagatelles comes the same composer's mighty "Lucifer" Suite, with its extremely maniacal closing movement. Finally, as a magical epilogue, comes Ravel's simple but sublime Ma mère l'oye. Each piece moves inevitably and ineluctably to the next, and the aesthetic whole is much more than the sum of its brilliant parts.On top of that, there's the magnificent virtuosity of the performances by American pianist Robert Hamilton.