GRIEG Lyric Pieces (complete)  • Nicholas Roth (pn)  •  BLUE GRIFFIN 145 (3 CDs: 173:11)

Prior to the Grieg sesquicentennial in 1993, there were scant recordings of his solo piano music. Lyric Pieces is his lifelong musical diary, with op. 12 to op. 71 spanning 30 years. A handful of the more popular pieces have popped up on recital concerts over the years, notably those of Artur Rubinstein and Emil Gilels. There are also many historic recordings of individual Lyric Pieces, including delectable ones from Percy Grainger and Walter Gieseking. Of course the music is consistently wonderful, and complete sets, which run for three full CDs, are highly recommended to lovers of the Romantic solo piano repertoire.

Grieg’s solo piano music, like that of Chopin, is alluringly shaped and falls easily under the hands, and so it is adored by concert pianists (and amateurs), resulting in an embarrassment of excellent choices. Roth’s competition in the complete set comes from Steen-Nøkleberg on Naxos and Oppitz on RCA. Both of those versions are excellent, and so is this new one. Oppitz offers the most stylish, even sumptuous take, and is also the priciest, but it could be argued that a more straightforward approach is more appropriate for this often-folksy music. In side to side comparisons, one or the other pianist may gain an advantage, but I could live with any of these, and if price is the deciding factor, Naxos wins (Blue Griffin is usually midpriced, $13.99 on ArkivMusic.com).

This is my first encounter with the playing of Nicholas Roth, and I enjoyed it immensely. The superb Blue Griffin recording captures his fine dynamic control and graceful, delicate handling of Grieg’s filigree. This young American yields nothing in the way of idiomatic style to his European colleagues, and his devotion and love for this trove of musical riches is apparent at every turn. The production does feel a bit bare-boned; to call the program notes sparse would be generous. Peter Burwasser

Grieg: Complete Lyric Pieces (3CDs)

$29.99

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