In the good old days before recordings, people got to know symphonic music through piano duet arrangements such as the ones Grieg made for three of his own works: the concerto overture “In Autumn”, the Two Elegiac Melodies, and the Two Symphonic Pieces Op. 14. Grieg was a terrific pianist, so it’s no surprise that his four-handed arrangements lose nothing in the de-orchestration process. Likewise, Theodor Kirchner’s duet arrangement of the Sarabande, Gavotte, and Rigaudon from the lovely Holberg Suite couldn’t be more idiomatically deployed for the medium. I’m not convinced, however, that the solo piano piece Wedding Day at Troldhaugen gains from having an extra pair of hands helping out. The music becomes simplified and challenge-less rather than extended. But there’s no arguing the tangy charm of Grieg’s Waltz Caprices Op. 37 and Four Norwegian Dances Op. 35, both originally for duet. The Kölner Klavier-Duo’s solid, stylish playing is marked by well-oiled ensemble and felicitous nuances. This is music meant to be heard in the home, read through by you and a friend sitting on the piano bench. But until duet playing replaces television and video games, the best way to learn how these Grieg duets sound is to buy this CD.
