Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1-5/Bagatelles

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

2. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

3. Bagatelle for piano in C minor, WoO 52
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

4. Allegretto for piano in C major ("Bagatelle") WoO 56
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

6. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

7. Bagatelles (11) for piano, Op. 119
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

8. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat major ("Emperor"), Op. 73
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

9. Bagatelles (7) for piano, Op. 33
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

10. Bagatelles (6) for piano, Op. 126
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by John Lill
Conducted by Walter Weller

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In C Major, Op. 15: I. Allegro con brio
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C Major, Op. 15: II. Largo
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C Major, Op. 15: III. Rondo: Allegro
Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: I. Andante Con Moto, Cantabile E Compiacevole
Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: II. Allegro
Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: III. Andante, Cantabile E Grazioso
Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: IV. Presto
Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: V. Quasi Allegretto
Six Bagatelles, Op. 126: VI. Presto-Andante Amabile E Con Moto
Fur Elise

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37: I. Allegro con brio
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37: II. Largo
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37: III. Rondo: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, Op. 58: I. Allegro moderato
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, Op. 58: II. Andante con moto
Piano Concerto No. 4 In G Major, Op. 58: III. Rondo: Vivace

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat Major, Op. 73: I. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat Major, Op. 73: II. Adagio un poco mosso
Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat Major, Op. 73: III. Rondo: Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 19: I. Allegro con brio
II. Adagio: 2. Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major, Op. 19: III. Rondo: Molto allegro

Amazon.com

Each of these performances has its own profile. The orchestra plays incisively in the First Concerto, but Ashkenazy's plush lyricism doesn't make a good match either with the orchestra or with the music, and he makes one weird ritard in the first movement. The Second Concerto is uneventful, rather bland and pleasant. The Third Concerto seems to be the best performance of the lot, with dramatic playing by soloist and orchestra, but it's sabotaged by blurry recorded sound, the only serious problem with sound quality in the entire set. The Fourth Concerto is enlivened, at least intellectually, by Solti's approach, constantly revealing interesting unfamiliar details in the orchestral score. Ashkenazy's detachment makes this a frosty but fascinating experience. The "Emperor" is a good routine performance, nothing special. The Bagatelles aren't much of a bonus, since they're rather dully played. (Why not the "Choral" Fantasy?) There's nothing actively bad about this set, and it's reasonably priced. But Beethoven deserves better, and gets it from many performers, including the fascinating Uchida-Sanderling collaborations. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

beethoven piano concerti.......2007-05-07

the article was in good condition and i had a smooth and prompt delivary

wished it was not a set.......2006-10-27

All I can comment right now, is the performance of the Beethoven piano concerto 1 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra was poor. The playing was stiff, the orchestra was below what they should be. I thought I even heard some off key notes from the band! Disappointed. Maybe I am just so used to how Martha Argerich plays it... However the rest of the discs are fantastic, what a contrast!!!!!!

Wonderful set!.......2005-05-03

Ashkenazy is more sweet in his playing than profound, Solti and the CSO are on fire, and the Decca sound is excellent! Good job!

What is Ashkenazy up to?.......2004-05-16

After purchasing Ashkenazy's complete set of the Mozart concertos, I decided to get this one of the Beethoven concertos. Although some of the reviewers had voiced complaints about this set, I felt that it couldn't be that bad. Indeed, it's not that bad, but its not that good either.

To me, it seems as if Ashkenazy has no sense of style. His approaches to these concertos are more lyrical and romantic rather than classical. Take the first, for example. Ashkenazy treats the piano line as if he were playing Chopin. Solti, on the other hand, seems to feel that louder is better. Thus we have a very bizarre dialogue between piano and orchestra in the C major concerto. The second isn't much better. Although Ashkenazy gives a much better reading, Solti again feels that the CSO must play as forcefully as possible. The concerto is rather bland in the first place and Ashkenazy's approach is nothing special. The third concerto is wonderfully played by both Ashkenazy and the CSO. Ashkenazy treatment of the piano line is more classical while Solti's boisterous approach actually works in this powerful work. However, poor recording conditions (the evident hiss in the background) ruin the largo. The G major concerto is the most interesting in the set. Solti's treatment of the orchestra accompaniment is quite inspired - this is Solti at his most tender. However, Ashkenazy's icy interpretation is detached, it seems as if he and Solti are on two entirely different pages. Although the recording is remarkable in its beauty, Ashkenazy's lack of warmth leaves a chilling cloud over the performance. The fifth is nothing special. Solti is back to being loud and Ashkenazy gives a good, routine performance.

All in all, even at a budget price, this set is not highly recommended.

Beautiful, but not perfect.......2004-02-16

This is a good set of the piano concertos. However, the main problem is in the Fifth (Emperor): the second movement is extremely slow and faltering. This is one of the most beautiful pieces ever composed and the second movement MUST be perfect, as the version of Perahia: astonishing sensible, rhythmic.

Tracks:

I Allegro Con Brio
II Adagio
III Rondo (Molto Allegro)
I Allegro Con Brio
II Largo
Rondo (Allegro Scherzando)

Tracks:

Allegro Con Brio
II Largo
III Rondo (Allegro)
I Allegro Moderato
II Andante Con Moto
III Rondo (Vivace)

Tracks:

I Allegro
II Adagio Un Poco Mosso
III Rondo (Allegro)
A Adagio - Finale: Allegro - Meno Allegro - Allegro Molto
B Adagio, Ma Non Troppo - Marcia, Assai Vivace
C Allegro - Allegretto, Ma Non Troppo (Quasi Andante Con Moto) - Presto

Tracks:

7 Variations On 'God Save The King' WoO 78
I Andante Grazioso, Quasi Allegretto
II Scherzo (Allegro)
III Allegretto
IV Andante
V Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
VI Allegretto Quasi Andante
VII Presto
Fantasie Op. 77
I Allegretto
II Andante Con Moto
III A L'allemande
IV Andante Cantabile
V Risoluto
VI Andante
VII Allegro, Ma Non Troppo
VIII Moderato Cantabile
IX Vivace Moderato
X Allegramente
XI Andante, Ma Non Troppo
I Andante Con Moto
II Allegro
III Andante
IV Presto
V Quasi Allegretto
VI Presto - Andante Amabile E Con Moto - Tempo I
5 Variations On 'Rule Britannia' WoO 79

Customer Reviews:

Well worth owning.......2007-05-10

Melvyn Tan is a superb player, and Norrington (I think) conducts Beethoven appropriately, which means with great feeling and sensitivity, but without syrupy melodrama. This fine recording shows both at their best. But for the life of me, I don't know why they didn't move the mike a little closer to the fortepiano. It's just a little too low in the mix. Fortepianos - good ones - aren't mousy little music boxes. They aren't Bosendorfers, but they can sure hold up their end of the deal. Here, the instrument is just a little too soft. Other than that, it's a spendid recording. And the addition of a "recital" of several of Beethoven's solo piano works on (one of his many) original pianos is a real plus.

Excellent, but...........2005-11-02

I agree with the other reviewer concerning the merits of pianist Melvyn Tan performing the complete Beethoven piano concerti accompanied by Sir Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players. My only reservation is that his fortepiano is overwhelmed by the orchestral accompaniment most of the time. It just seems jarring to hear tinkling notes emitting from Tan's fortepiano only to be answered with gale-force volume blasting from the orchestra in return. Perhaps if smaller orchestral forces had been used along with some restraint, or better miking of the soloist, I would have awarded this set 5 stars. Still, since fortepiano renditions of these masterworks are rare, this is a valuable and worthy edition to any music library.

A Great Recording at a Great Price.......2005-04-13

Melvyn Tan teams with Sir Roger Norrington in an historic recording of the Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle, with a few excellent bonuses thrown in. Few players can equal Tan on the pianoforte, though he no longer plays it exclusively in concert these days. In 1995 he switched over to the modern piano, which he now plays the majority of the time in recital.

Tan and Norrington were/are a natural pairing. Norrington was at the forefront of bringing period instruments and arrangements back into the concert halls of Europe and America.

The tonality of the concertos definitely does sound different than when played on modern instruments with their greater sonority. The effect here is more muted and sedate. This is especially true in Concerto #2, which always struck me as having a more classical feel to it than #1, even.

The interplay and timing between the London Classical Players and Tan is flawless throughout the set. While there may not be many "fireworks" here, there are no discernable missteps either (at least to this untrained ear).

I would suggest that all Beethoven lovers and collectors snatch this CD set up, quickly, while the price is still right. It really represents an abundance of listening pleasure at a price I would expect to pay for one concerto CD.

Highly Recommended.

BEK