Anyone got this one?

[keaggy220]

Piano Concertos 1-5. If so, please let me know if it's a good example of Beethoven's Concertos. I'm especially interested in a good recording of the 5th - so any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks

[RebLem]

Well, first of all, the piano concerti are more than half of all Beethoven's concerti. After that, the most famous and frequently performed of the concerti is the Violin Concerto. There is also a Triple Concerto, and I suppose the Fantasia for Piano, Chorus, and Orchestra could be called a piano concerto, too. In addition, there is an occasionally performed piano transcription of the violin concerto. I think there is also an early piano concerto, which you will usually see with the designation WoO after it. This and all works similarly designated means "Without opus #." In other words, it was something he composed early in his life which he never bothered to get published.

I think you will find a plurality, maybe even a majority, of listeners who will agree that far and away the leading set of the Beethoven piano concerti is that by Leon Fleisher, George Szell, and the Cleveland Orchestra. When I think of all the other, say, 100 most frequently performed works, I can think of no other work or series of works on which there is anything as close to a consensus as on this recommendation. Other recordings are worth listening to, but I think if you have any reasonable set of priorities, you will want about 1000 other CDs at least before you seek an alternative to Fleisher.

I say this as someone who owns the following sets of the piano concerti in addition to Fleisher, Szell: 1) Arrau, Davis, 2) Ashkenazy, Solti, 3) Brendel, Levine, 4) Kempff, Leitner, 5) Perahia, Haitink, 6) Pollini, with Bohm and Jochum, 7) Tan, Norrington, and, 8 ) Schnabel, Sargent. In addition, I recently acquired the Aimard, Harnoncourt set, but I haven't listened to it yet. Your second set, I would suggest, should probably be the Kempff, Leitner.

In addition, I own some individual recordings of #5 by 1) Casadesus, Rosbaud, 2) Fischer, Furtwangler, 3) Firkusny, Steinberg, 4) Michelangeli, Giulini, and 5) Schnabel, Stock. In addition, I have another one on a cheapo label by one Dubravka Tomsic, pianist, and Anton Nanut, conductor, with the Ljubljana (Slovenia) Symphony Orch--these three are my nominees for the titles of world's most underrated pianist, conductor, and orchestra respectively.

Believe me, Fleisher, Szell is the place to start.

[Lance]

Fortunately, you have many, many choices of complete editions. As a veteran collector for many years, obviously you find ones that you feel are model performances.

If you are into more historical pianists, there are many choices for integral editions. Some "historical" versions (from the 1960s) were recorded so well that they remain in the forefront artistically and sonically.

Everyone will have different choices, but I offer these as my choices:

• Sony Classical 42445 [3 CDs]. Leon Fleisher, pianist. Cleveland Orchestra, George Szell, conductor. This would be a first choice for an all-around set that is satisfying in every regard. Fleisher was a pupil of Schnabel, is still playing and teaching, and is a master musician. Sound is spectacularly good for these performances recorded in 1959 and 1961. A bonus is the inclusion of Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 25 with the same forces. These were produced by Howard H. Scott and remixed by him for the CD edition. Truthfully, it doesn't get much better than this.
• Naxos 8.110638, 8.110639, 8.110640 [3 separate CDs]. Artur Schnabel, piano. Sir Malcolm Sargent conducting either the LSO or LPO in these most beloved historical recordings made originally in the days of 78s, and are brought to their best sound in these Mark Obert-Thorn restorations. Whatever else you have in recordings, you should seek out these Naxos discs, which now may only be available from European/British sources.
• RCA 60336 (formerly 61260) [from the Rubinstein Edition, available as an independent set] [3 CDs]. Artur Rubinstein, piano. Symphony of the Air, Josef Krips, conductor. Rubinstein recorded three integral editions, this being the first (1954, stereo) recording. He subsequently recorded them again (1963-1967) with the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Erich Leinsdorf, and again (1975) with Daniel Barenboim conducting the London Philharmonic. Of all these sets, the earliest, in vivid early stereo sound, easily remains for me, the most satisfying musically when Rubinstein was at the apex or his career with forces that could hardly be bettered (the old NBC Symphony's incomparable musicians formerly working under Arturo Toscanini). Those with Leinsdorf and the Boston Symphony are also quite wonderful and certainly more satisfying in every respect than those made with Barenboim.

Other pianists you may want to watch out for in any of the Beethoven concertos are Solomon (who also recorded a complete set), Moiseiwitsch, Rudolf Serkin, Clifford Curzon, Michelangeli, and Kempff, Brendel (early recordings), de Larrocha, and Uchida.

Have fun making your selections, and please come back to us and let us know what you acquired!

[Haydnseek]

I must have more recordings of the "Emperor" concerto than any other piece of classical music. I listen to them all and never get tired of it. Pollini with Böhm and the Vienna Philharmonic was my favorite for some time but these days Claudio Arrau’s colorful account with Colin Davis and the Staatskapelle Dresden may take first place – unless I happen to be listening to Perahia or Brendel.

[Corlyss_D]

Believe me, Fleisher, Szell is the place to start.

I second that. For a second version, I recommend highly the Kempff mono on DG (not the stereo on DG). Those are not the only sets I have, but they are the finest.

[Werner]

Amazing, the agreement evident on the excellence of the Fleisher/Szell cycle, in the presence of all the other excellent ones. I also own many of those mentioned above - and I also agree on the Fleisher.

[Holden Fourth]

Piano Concertos 1-5. If so, please let me know if it's a good example of Beethoven's Concertos. I'm especially interested in a good recording of the 5th - so any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks

Yes, I have and find it to be a very good set. There is no weakness anywhere and Perahia excels particularly in the first 2 concertos. That said 3 - 5 are recomendable too- the third perhaps being the weakest. My only caveat is the cost and has been mentioned before there are sets that are just as good for a cheaper price though not as well produced/recorded.

[Ralph]

I'll sign on to the Szell cycle too.

[Corlyss_D]

Okay, what I really want to know is why doesn't the pic show up everytime. Sometimes it does; and sometimes it doesn't.

[jserraglio]

Taking nothing away from Fleisher/Szell (wonderful performances), for me there can be only one "Emperor," if I'm having only one--

Serkin/Bernstein, or should I say Bernstein/Serkin?

[keaggy220]

Excellent - thanks for the answers - and for all those that have answered my other posts for the past several months - be assured that lots of my hard earned money is being spent on your suggestions. I can say everything suggested has been extraordinary. I have a good (non-classical music) friend of mine buying your suggestons and now he is hooked as well...

Because of being a complete novice to classical music I always feel a little bit like constant "taker" on this forum. However, I have found everyone to be completely selfless in giving some of the most informative and intelligent answers I've encountered on any forum - ever! Thanks everyone - it is clear that you have a passion for classical music.

[keaggy220]

I think I'll go with Szell first - based on your recommendations.

[jserraglio]

I think I'll go with Szell first - based on your recommendations.

the set with Fleisher, not the one with Gilels.

[Brendan]

Much as I like Fleisher, I prefer Solomon, especially for the 5th.

[Ralph]

Excellent - thanks for the answers - and for all those that have answered my other posts for the past several months - be assured that lots of my hard earned money is being spent on your suggestions. I can say everything suggested has been extraordinary. I have a good (non-classical music) friend of mine buying your suggestons and now he is hooked as well...

Because of being a complete novice to classical music I always feel a little bit like constant "taker" on this forum. However, I have found everyone to be completely selfless in giving some of the most informative and intelligent answers I've encountered on any forum - ever! Thanks everyone - it is clear that you have a passion for classical music.

*****

We were ALL takers at one time or another. That's how knowledge is transmitted and help given. Stick with us, ask all you want. The day will come, sooner than you might believe, when YOU'LL be answering the queries of others.

[rogch]

Any opinions on the set with Mitsuko Uchida and the Concertgebauw orchestra conducted by Kurt Sanderling? I am very curious about that set, sounds like a winning combination.

The Perahia/Haitink set is excelent, at least in the three last concertos. I haven't heard their recording of the first two, but i would be surprised if they were not equally good.

If you are looking for something different you can go for Glenn Gould or a recording on period instruments. But perhaps not as your first recording of the works.

[val]

Beethoven's Five Piano Concertos.

For the n. 1 and 2 my choice is Rudolf Serkin with Ormandy, classical, dynamic, with perfect articulation.

In the 3rd Concerto, because of the phrasing and lyricism, the version of Claudio Arrau with Haitink.

In the 4th Guilels and Ludwig are, and by far, my favorites.


Regarding the 5th: Kempff with Paul van Kempen and the BPO is unique in the second movement. A moment of pure grace.

But the severe Backhaus, with Isserstedt and the VPO, abrupt, compact but never massive, is also fascinating.

In third place I would mention Guilels and Ludwig, perhaps not so extraordinary as in the 4th and Curzon with Knappertsbusch and the VPO.

[PJME]

There are three ,fairly recent recordings that stand out:
Pierre Laurent Aimard / Harnoncourt/European Ch.O on Teldec
Jos Van Immerseel/Bruno Weil/ Tafelmusik on Sony
Robert Levin/Gardiner/Orchestre Révolutionaire&romantique on Archiv

Aimard /Harnoncourt are excellent. This is Beethoven for the 21st century!
Van Immerseel and Levin are often very good aswell, but play a fortepiano. the sound of which can be unsettling for those who are not into historical performance. Even so, it is good to keep that sound in mind ...Beethoven doesn't need a huge orchestra , nor pianists that confound Romanticism with sentiment(ality).

[MaestroDJS]

One of the more interesting, if not idiosyncratic or downright strange, recordings in my collection is one found at a 2nd-hand book and record sale in St. Louis, Missouri:

Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat Major "Emperor". Glenn Gould, Piano; American Symphony Orchestra / Leopold Stokowski (Recorded 1-4 March 1966). Columbia MS 6888 (1 LP).

It would be hard to imagine 2 performers with more forceful personalities than Leopold Stokowski (then 84) and Glenn Gould (then 34). In their only recording together, the tug-of-war between conductor and pianist seems very pronounced. It almost seems as if they pass the limelight back and forth to each other, or perhaps they take and retake the limelight from each other. As usual Gould's tempi are on the slow side, whereas Stokowski seems to want to get on with it. In any case it is an exhilarating performance. This was perhaps the only time Stokowski performed with an instrumental soloist after Sergei Rachmaninoff in 1929 and 1934. Despite their half-century age difference and extremely strong personalities, Stokowski and Gould created an electric albeit highly eccentric performance. They must have worked together well, because Gould thought highly enough of Stokowski to write and produce a radio documentary entitled Stokowski: A Portrait for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 1971.

Well, first of all, the piano concerti are more than half of all Beethoven's concerti. After that, the most famous and frequently performed of the concerti is the Violin Concerto.

Beethoven also arranged the violin part of his Violin Concerto for piano. It's not exactly a 6th piano concerto, but it's interesting listening nonetheless. And in a fine case of "there and back again," Beethoven also wrote a cadenza for the piano version, but not the original violin version, so some violinists have transcribed the piano cadenza for violin and performed it.

Dave

David Stybr, Engineer and Composer: It's Left Brain vs. Right Brain: best 2 falls out of 3
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[Jack Kelso]

Would anyone consider the Cliburn/Reiner recording to be among the top performances of the Beethoven E-Flat Concerto? It has warmth, passion, drama and precision playing from all involved.

Jack

[PJME]

Apparently there is hardly any interest in the Fortepiano performances....
General dislike of the sound? Were the discs available in the US?