Beethoven: Complete Piano Concertos, Vol. 1

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 Allegro con-brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Artur Schnabel
Conducted by Malcolm Sargent

2. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 Largo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Artur Schnabel
Conducted by Malcolm Sargent

3. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, Op. 15 Rondo
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Artur Schnabel
Conducted by Malcolm Sargent

4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 Allegro con brio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra with Artur Schnabel
Conducted by Malcolm Sargent

5. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 Adagio
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra with Artur Schnabel
Conducted by Malcolm Sargent

6. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat major, Op. 19 Rondo: Molto allegro
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by London Philharmonic Orchestra with Artur Schnabel
Conducted by Malcolm Sargent

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In C, Op. 15: 1. Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C, Op. 15: 2. Largo - L.V. Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 1 In C, Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro scherzando - L.V. Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37: 1. Allegro con brio - L.V. Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37: 2. Largo - L.V. Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37: 3. Rondo. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19: 1. Allegro con Brio - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19: 2. Adagio - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19: 3. Rondo: Molto Allegro - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19: 1. Allegro moderato - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19: 2. Andante con Moto - Beethoven
Piano Concerto No. 2 in B flat, Op. 19: 3. Rondo: Vivace - Beethoven
Violin Romance No. 1 in G, Op. 40: Violin Romance No. 1 In G - Beethoven
Violin Romance No. 2 In F, Op 50: Violin Romance No. 2 In F - Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

Beethoven + Piano = Kovacevich.......2002-03-06

I'm afraid I'm not familiar with the grimuax recordings but let me tell you that any beethoven cd with kovacevich is an absolute must. In my opinion he is the perhaps the best pianist of the recording era - you can throw Richter, Gilels, Horowitz, Argerich and the likes at me but none are better than Kovacevich - I am mystified why he has never gained the recognition of the others. The recordings with Sir Colin Davis on these concertos are magnificent - piano concertos 3 and 4 are the stand out with superb lyricism, but also the second movement of 5 must be the most sensative on record.

not satisfying!!!.......2002-01-04

I am disappointed with the performance of the third and fourth of the beethoven piano concertos!first the sound quality is poor!the piano sounds okay but the orchestral sound is jumbled!
now coming to the performance-kovacevich is fast and technically brilliant!yet it strangely does not satisfy the soul!the orchestral accompaniment by sir colin davis lacks depth!the strings lack in the bass section,the woodwinds of the bbc symphony are totally out of colur-just listen to the anaemic oboe struggling to make its presence felt!
i would recommend Kempff and ferdinand leitner for a classical approach-deeply satisfying.
my absolute first is Vladimir Ashkenazy and zubin mehta conducting the vienna philharmonic.this is a stupendous performance with excellent sound quality.listen to the breadth,depth and sweep of the opening movement of the third piano concerto,the strings paint an imposing canvas and the woodwinds are full of earnestness and quiet aspiration !the opening movement is imbued with a grandeur and mystery and when the piano joins the fray the magic is complete.the 4th and 5th piano concertos are also given a fine treatment.ashkenazy is in top form and delivers a soulful performance.

Kovacevich and Davis: A Stellar Partnership.......2001-08-30

Stephen (Bishop) Kovacevich's electrifying Beethoven piano concerto cycle remains the standard against which others are measured. This two CD compilation contains his performances of the first four concerti, with Sir Colin Davis and the BBC Symphony Orchestra giving ample support. His dramatic performance of the 4th Piano Concerto is as fiery as Helene Grimaud's recently recorded Teldec account, yet Kovacevich shows he was the better technician. Equally commendable are his performances of the other three concerti, which are replete with warmth and brilliance. Along with Kovacevich's performances are two violin works performed by Arthur Grimaux supported by Bernard Haitink conducting the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Beethoven by the scruff of the neck..........1999-12-04

Thank heavens! Someone interprets the 4th Piano Concerto with fire and brilliance without masking the warm song that runs through all of it. I'm quite sick of the traditional view of this concerto as a dreamy and gentle piece, making pianists and conductors downplay the concerto's drama and contrasts with unclear orchestral textures, languid tempi, and little variety of articulartion and dynamics. For those of you who think Beethoven is for cheese manufacturing, go elsewhere. For me, these recordings go to the heart of Beethoven, revealing him as both Dionysus and Apollo. In this performance, the finale of the 4th Piano Concerto exults just as much as the finale of the 7th Symphony. It's both heart-gripping in warmth as well as absolutely thrilling. The slow movement of the 4th Concerto is also remarkable -- this interpretation really does emphasize its links with the world of opera, with Davis's making the string octaves super-stern and Kovacevich gently shaping his lines like a singer (and what an outburst he creates in his cadenza!). There's a great moment in the 1st movement of the 1st Piano Concerto (the preperation for the recapitulation) where Kovacevich substitutes a descending scale for an octave glissando from the top to the bottom of the piano! Purists might scoff at this, but I find it absolutely irresistable. But I'm quick to add that any of you who might dismiss Kovacevich as an instensitive pianist should listen to his rapt restraint in the second movement of the 3rd Concerto, with phrasing to die for. The romances are really touching, and Grumiaux's intonation is quite immaculate. But Davis, Kovacevich, and the BBC Symphony Orchestra are the stars of this great bargain set. And I dare say that Kovacevich is (in my humble opinion) the most remarkable Beethoven pianist alive.

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 2: Concertos

Average customer rating:

The piano concertos are superb; the rest is mediocre

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 2: Concertos
Ludwig van Beethoven , Myung-Whun Chung , Daniel Barenboim , Peter Gulke , Patrick Gallois , Gidon Kremer , Eva Ander , Maurizio Pollini , and Anne-Sophie Mutter
Manufacturer: Deutsche Grammophon
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Deutsche Grammophon: Music | Specialty Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 7: Violin Sonatas
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 14: Misc. Chamber Works
Complete Beethoven Edition Vol. 6 - Piano Works / Demus, Alder, Gilels, Mustonen, Kempff, Barenboim
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 11: Early String Quartets
Complete Beethoven Edition, Vol. 13: Late String Quartets

ASIN: B000001GZ5
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In C Major Op. 15: 1. Allegro con brio
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In C Major Op. 15: 2. Largo
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 1 In C Major Op. 15: 3. Rondo. Allegro scherzando
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 19: 1. Allegro con brio
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 19: 2. Adagio
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 19: 3. Rondo. Molto allegro
Rondo For Piano And Orchestra In B Flat Major WoO 6: Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 3 In C Minor: 1. Alelgro con brio
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 3 In C Minor: 2. Largo
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 3 In C Minor: 3. Rondo. Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 4 In G Major: 1. Allegro moderato
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 4 In G Major: 2. Andante con moto
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 4 In G Major: 3. Rondo. Vivace
Romance Cantabile For Piano, Flute And Bassoon Accompanied By Two Oboes And Strings In E Minor

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In E Flat Major 'Emperor': 1. Allegro
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In E Flat Major 'Emperor': 2. Adagio un poco moto - attacca:
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra No. 5 In E Flat Major 'Emperor': 3. Rondo. Allegro
Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra In C Major ('Triple Concerto'): 1. Allegro
Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra In C Major ('Triple Concerto'): 2. Largo - attacca:
Concerto For Piano, Violin, Cello And Orchestra In C Major ('Triple Concerto'): 3. Rondo alla Polacca

Tracks:

Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major Op. 61: 1. Allegro ma non troppo
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major Op. 61: 2. Larghetto
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In D Major Op. 61: 3. Rondo. Allegro
Concerto For Violin And Orchestra In C Major WoO 5: 1. Allegro con brio
Romance For Violin And Orchestra In G Major Op. 40: Andante
Romance In F Major Op. 50: Andante cantabile

Tracks:

Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In D Major Op. 61: 1. Allegro ma non troppo - L.V. Beethoven
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In D Major Op. 61: 2. Larghetto - attacca: - L.V. Beethoven
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In D Major Op. 61: 3. Rondo. Allegro - L.V. Beethoven
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In E Flat Major WoO 4: 1. Allegro moderato - L.V. Beethoven
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In E Flat Major WoO 4: 2. Larghetto - L.V. Beethoven
Concerto For Piano And Orchestra In E Flat Major WoO 4: 3. Rondo. (Allegretto) - L.V. Beethoven

Customer Reviews:

The piano concertos are superb; the rest is mediocre.......2002-02-18

A collection of this size and variety (this set features every work for soloist with orchestra Beethoven ever wrote) is bound to be a mixed bag, and this set is no exception. The main reason for buying this set is the magnificent set of the piano concertos featuring Maurizio Pollini. The clarity and assurance of his playing is little short of astonishing, while there is no hint of the coldness he has sometimes been accused of - and anyway, he has two of the warmest, most sympathetic accompanists ever in Karl Böhm (3-5, analogue recordings) and Eugen Jochum (1-2, digital recordings), in addition to the warmth of the Vienna Philharmonic. Although his playing in the introverted G major Concerto is searching and powerful, Pollini is perhaps best suited to the enormous scale of the Emperor Concerto, where his magisterial playing is heard to outstanding effect. The slow movement of the Emperor is exceptional. Warm, clear sound throughout. This is certainly one of the best sets, if not the best set, of the piano concertos out there.

The rest of the set is sadly below this (admittedly high) standard. Next time, Deutsche Grammophon should entrust their choice of performance to their musical experts instead of their PR department; the choice of the Karajan/Mutter Violin Concerto over the Schneiderhan/Jochum version is mind-boggling. While a pleasant, fully competent performance, there is no way the Karajan can match the glories of that recognized classic. My main reservations concern the first movement ("Allegro ma non troppo"), which Karajan takes at an extremely slow tempo. He and Mutter sustain it superbly, but it sounds contrived when set against the natural elegance of Schneiderhan and Jochum. The older team also captures the magical stillness of the slow movement to a much greater degree - and at a flowing, more spontaneously natural tempo. Spontaneity and lyricism are the hallmarks of the Schneiderhan/Jochum version - two virtues lacking in Karajan's hands (it is Karajan's musical personality which dominates the performance). Lyricism is present, but it's the wrong kind - static and narcissistic. The Triple Concerto, which features the same conductor and violinist in addition to Zeltser's piano and Ma's cello, suffers from the same problems: intimidated (though imaginative) soloists and a conspicuous lack of spontaneity. They are both beautifully played, though, and aren't incompetent. However, in my opinion they're not of the standard a set like this needs.

These seven concertos are the extent of the standard Beethoven concerto repertoire, but as this is a complete set, we are given all the fragments and trivialities, which date mostly from Beethoven's early years in Bonn. These make for intriguing listening and reference, but will probably not be listened to more than a few times.

As with every volume of the Complete Beethoven Edition, the presentation is handsome. The informative, beautiful booklet contains many intriguing essays on all of Beethoven's concertos, and features beautiful color reproductions of many appropriate paintings and visual resources.

In sum: if you want a compilation of all of Beethoven's concertos in performances that range from good to superlative, look no further. Even if you're looking for the best performances of each concerto, you should consider buying this, because it is only in this set that you can find Pollini's outstanding Piano Concertos - and the price of this set is only a few dollars more than, say, the Brendel-Rattle set of just the Piano Concertos. If you're looking for the best performance of the Violin Concerto, look to Schneiderhan and Jochum on DG Originals 447 403-2. There has never, to my knowledge, been a high-quality recording of the Triple Concerto; the catalogue is dominated by Karajan's two attempts, of which the earlier on EMI Great Recordings of the Century is probably preferable to this, though there's really not much in it. Overall, I doubt anyone will be disappointed with this set.

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