JEAN RIVIER (1896-1987): Concerto brève for Piano and Strings, ROBERT CASADESUS (1899-1972): Capriccio for Piano and Strings, Op. 49, JEAN WIENER (1896-1982): Piano Concerto No. 1 "Franco Americain", JACQUES CASTÉRÈDE (b.1926): Concerto for Piano and Strings.

Description: Bright, high-strung and busy French concertos for piano and string orchestra, three of them coming from 1952-54. Wiener's is the oldest, coming from 1923, more of Ravel in it than neo-classicism and colored with American jazz elements. Rivier and Casadesus are in the style of Les Six, full of glittering virtuosity and very much in-your-face in their insistent, almost all fast-tempo styles. The longest work is Castérède's four-movement concerto of 1954 whose moto perpetuo à la Prokofiev and racing neo-classical finale are balanced by a lovely, relaxed first movement Pastorale and a still, rapt ten-minute Nocturne. Timon Altwegg (piano), Toulouse Chamber Orchestra; Gilles Colliard.