Beethoven: Piano Concerto in G No. 4, Op. 58; Mozart: Concertos for piano No. 24

On this CD:

1. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, Op. 58
Composed by Ludwig van Beethoven
Performed by Philharmonic Orchestra

2. Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor, K. 491
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No.2 In C Minor, Op.18
Piano Concerto No.3 In D Minor, Op.30
Piano Concerto No.6 In B Flat, K.238
Piano Concerto No.8 In C, K.246 "Lzow"
Piano Concerto No.9 In E Flat, K.271 - "Jeunehomme"
Concert Rondo For Piano And Orchestra In D. K.382
Piano Concerto No.20 In D Minor, K.466
Piano Concerto No.27 In B Flat, K.595
Piano Concerto No.1 In B Flat Minor, Op.23
Piano Concerto No.2 In F Minor, Op.21
Concerto For Harpsichord, Strings, And Continuo No.1 In D Minor, Bwv 1052
Piano Concerto No.2 In B Flat, Op.83
Piano Concerto No.4 In G, Op.58
Piano Concerto No.5 In E Flat Major Op.73 -"Emperor"
Piano Concerto In A Minor, Op.54
Introduction & Allegro Appassionato For Piano & Orchestra, Op.92
Concert Allegro With Introduction In D Minor, Op.134
Alexander Scriabin
Rhapsody On A Theme Of Paganini, Op.43
Piano Concerto No.3, Bb 127, Sz. 119
Prometh - Le Poe Du Feu, Op.60
Piano Concerto No.1, Bb 91, Sz. 83
Piano Concerto
Piano Concerto No.2, Bb 101, Sz. 95
Piano Concerto No.1 In D Flat, Op.10
Piano Concerto No.2 In G Minor, Op.16
Piano Concerto No.21 In C, K.467

Customer Reviews:

Great Concertos, Not So Great Box Set.......2004-04-29

The fact that Vladimir Ashkenazy is one of the great pianists of the 20th Century is not open for debate. His performances of Mozart, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov in particular are among the very best ever recorded, and his Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky aren't far behind. Whether some of his better recordings should have been collected on this boxed set to celebrate his forty-year association with Decca, most certainly is up for debate.

I know that limited edition collector's sets focusing on venerable artists, instead of the traditional box sets focused on a specific composer, have been very profitable lately -- like those in the "Original Masters" series (see my reviews). But what distinguishes those sets from Ashkenazy's is the abundance of rare material, often never before released on CD. This 11 CD set only features one previously unissued performance, included on a "bonus CD" that is only 29 minutes in length -- Mozart's 21st Piano Concerto with Ashkenazy playing and conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. (A performance with the Philharmonia of No. 21 is included on Ashkenazy's Double Decca title and box set of the Piano Concerto Cycle.) It also features two performances in their "first international release" -- Schumann's "Introduction & Allegro appasionato" and "Concerto Allegro with Introduction," both with Uri Segal leading the LSO. The remainder of the recordings have all been available on CD previously -- the Rach 2 & 3 on Decca Legends, the Prokofievs on a Double Decca, the Tchaikovsky & Chopin PC2 in the Penguin Classics series, the Beethovens on a London/Decca box of the Piano Concertos, etc. Yes, some of the material is now out-of-print as single-discs -- the early Mozart Concertos with Kertesz and Schmidt-Isserstedt, and the Bach 1052 with Zinman were available in the old "Classic Sound" series -- but serious collectors most likely bought those initial offerings years ago before they were deleted.

So I guess my question is, whom does the Universal Music Group think will buy this set? The title "Collector's Edition" assumes collectors like me will, but I'm not trading in my single CD titles at the used store just to pay more money for one unissued Mozart performance! Therefore, this set must be aimed at entry-level fans, but most of them are not going to pay this much for their classical music either. And if they are curious about Ashkenazy as a performer, surely starting with a less comprehensive title makes more sense. You'd think by now UNI, with all its vast resources and labels, would have a better handle on their fan base, yet they prove once again that they do not.

Beethoven: Piano Concerto in G No. 4, Op. 58; Mozart: Concertos for piano No. 24

Average customer rating:

Beethoven: Piano Concerto in G No. 4, Op. 58; Mozart: Concertos for piano No. 24

Manufacturer: Sony Special Product
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music

Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005EBMH
Release Date: 2001-01-01

Brahms: The Complete Solo Piano Music and the Piano Concertos

Average customer rating:

Wonderful
Decent as a Collection
A great introduction

Brahms: The Complete Solo Piano Music and the Piano Concertos
Idil Biret
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Gavottes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Ballads | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Canons | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Fantasies | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Scherzo | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 1 In C. Major Op. 1: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C. Major Op. 1: Andante (nach einem alteutschen Minneliede)
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C. Major Op. 1: Scherzo: Allegro molto e con fuoco
Piano Sonata No. 1 In C. Major Op. 1: Finale: Allegro molto e con fuoco
Piano Sonata No. 2 In F Sharp Minor Op. 2: Allegro no troppo, ma energico
Piano Sonata No. 2 In F Sharp Minor Op. 2: Andante con espressione
Piano Sonata No. 2 In F Sharp Minor Op. 2: Scherzo: Allegro
Piano Sonata No. 2 In F Sharp Minor Op. 2: Finale: Introduzione (Sostenuto) - Allegro no troppo e rubato

Tracks:

Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 5: Allegro maestoso
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 5: Andantae espressivo
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 5: Scherzo: Allegro energico
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 5: Intermezzo: Andante molto
Piano Sonata No. 3 In F Minor, Op. 5: Finale: Allegro moderato ma rubato
Ballades, Op. 10: No. 1 In D Minor: Andante
Ballades, Op. 10: No. 2 In D Minor: Andante
Ballades, Op. 10: No. 3 In B Minor: Intermezzo, Allegro
Ballades, Op. 10: No. 4 In B Major: Andante con moto

Tracks:

Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 1 Capriccio In F. Sharp Minor
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 2 Capriccio In B Minor
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 3 Intermezzo In A Flat Major
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 4 Intermezzo In B Flat Major
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 5 Capriccio In C Sharp Minor
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 6 Intermezzo In A Major
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 7 Intermezzo In A Minor
Klavierstucke, Op. 76: No. 8 Capriccio In C Major
Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79: No. 1 In B Minor
Two Rhapsodies, Op. 79: No. 2 In G Minor
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 1 Capriccio In D Minor
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 2 Intermezzo In A Minor
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 3 Capriccio In G Minor
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 4 Intermezzo In E Major
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 5 Intermezzo In E Minor
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 6 Intermezzo In E Major
Fantasies, Op. 116: No. 7 Capriccio In D Minor

Tracks:

Three Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 1 In E Flat Major: Andante moderato
Three Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 2 In B Flat Minor: Andante non troppo e con molto espressione
Three Intermezzi, Op. 117: No. 3 In C Sharp Minor: Andante con moto
Klavierstucke, Op. 118: Intermezzo In A Minor: Allegro non assai, ma molto appassionato
Klavierstucke, Op. 118: Intermezzo In A Major: Andante teneramente
Klavierstucke, Op. 118: Ballade In G Minor: Allegro energico
Klavierstucke, Op. 118: Intermezzo In F Minor: Allegretto un poco agitato
Klavierstucke, Op. 118: Romanze In F Major: Andante
Klavierstucke, Op. 118: Intermezzo In E Flat Minor: Andante - Largo e mesto
Klavierstucke, Op. 119: Intermezzo In B Minor: Adagio
Klavierstucke, Op. 119: Intermezzo In E Minor: Andantino un poco agitato
Klavierstucke, Op. 119: Intermezzo In C Major: Grazioso e giocoso
Klavierstucke, Op. 119: Rhapsody In E Flat Major: Allegro risoluto
Klavierstucke, Op. 119: Scherzo In E Flat Minor, Op. 4: Rasch und Feurig

Tracks:

Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 1 In B Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 2 In E Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 3 In G Sharp Minor
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 4 In E Minor
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 5 In E Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 6 In C Sharp Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 7 In C Sharp Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 8 In B Flat Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 9 In D Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 10 In G Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 11 In B Minor
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 12 In E Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 13 In B Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 14 In G Sharp Minor
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 15 In A Flat Major
Waltzes,Op. 39 (First Version): No. 16 In C Sharp Minor
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 1 In G Minor
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 2 In D Minor
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 3 In F Major
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 4 In F Sharp Minor
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 5 In D Flat Major
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 6 In D Flat Major
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 7 In F Major
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 8 In A Major
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 9 In E Minor
Hungarian Dances WoO 1: No. 10 In E Major

Tracks:

Variations On An Original Theme In D Major: Op. 21, No. 1
Variations On A Hungarian Song In D Major, Op. 21, No. 2: Op. 21, No. 2
Five Studies For Piano, Anh. Ia-1: No. 1 Study In F Minor After Frederic Chopin
Five Studies For Piano, Anh. Ia-1: No. 2 Rondo In C Major After Carl Maria von Weber
Five Studies For Piano, Anh. Ia-1: No. 3 Presto In G Minor After J.S. Bach (1st Version)
Five Studies For Piano, Anh. Ia-1: No. 4 Presto In G Minor After J.S. Bach (2nd Version)
Five Studies For Piano, Anh. Ia-1: No. 5 Chaconne In D Minor By J.S. Bach (For Left Hand Alone)

Tracks:

51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6
51 Exercises WoO 6

Tracks:

Variations On A Theme By Schumann In F Sharp Minor, Op. 9
Variations On A Theme By Schumann In F Sharp Minor, Op. 9
Variations On A Theme By Paganini In A Minor, Op. 35: Book 1
Variations On A Theme By Paganini In A Minor, Op. 35: Book 2

Tracks:

Theme And Variations In D Minor GA Post. XV-9 (From String Sextet No. 1, Op. 18)
Gavotte In A Major From Iphigenie en Aulide By Christoph Willibald Gluck Anh. Ia-2
Sarabande In A Minor WoO Posth. 5-1 And Two Gavottes In A Minor And A Major WoO Posth. 4-1
Gigue In A Minor WoO Posth. 4-1
Sarabande In B Minor WoO Posth. 5-2
Gigue In B Minor WoO Posth. 4-2
Klavierstuck In B Flat Major Anh. Post. III-4
Canon In F Minor Anh. Posth. III-2
Canon (Inverted)
Rakoczy March Onh. Posth. III-10
Sarabande In A Minor: WoO Posth. 5-1
Impromptu D 899-2 By Franz Schubert D 899 (Study For The Left Hand) Anh. Posth. IV-2
Landler D 814 By Franz Schubert, Anh. Post. Ia-6
Piano Quintet By Robert Schumann, Op. 44, Anh. Posth. Ia-7: Scherzo

Tracks:

Four Song Transcriptions From 'Die schone Magelone' (Transcribed By Idil Biret): No. 12 Muss es eine Trennung geben
Four Song Transcriptions From 'Die schone Magelone' (Transcribed By Idil Biret): No. 10 Verzweiflung
Four Song Transcriptions From 'Die schone Magelone' (Transcribed By Idil Biret): No. 11 Wie schnell verschwindet
Four Song Transcriptions From 'Die schone Magelone' (Transcribed By Idil Biret): No. 14 Wie froh und frisch
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 1 In B Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 2 In E Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 3 In G Sharp Minor
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 4 In E Minor
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 5 In E Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 6 In C Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 7 In C Sharp Minor
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 8 In B Flat Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 9 In D Minor
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 10 In G Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 11 In B Minor
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 12 In E Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 13 In C Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 14 In A Minor
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 15 In A Major
Waltzes Op. 39 (Second Version): No. 16 In D Minor
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concerto In D Minor: For J.S. Bach: Concerto In D Minor BWV 1052 WoO Posth. 11
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concerto In G Major: For Mozart: Concerto In G Major K 453, WoO Posth. 13 - First Movement
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos: For Mozart: Concerto In G Major K 453, WoO Posth. 13 - Second Movement
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos: For Mozart: Concerto In G Major K 453, WoO Posth. 13 - Second Movement
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concert In D Minor: For Mozart: Concerto In D Minor K 466, WoO Posth. 14
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concert In C Minor: For Mozart: Concerto In C Minor K 491, WoO Posth. 15
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concerto No. 3 In C Minor: For Beethoven: Concerto No. 3 In C Minor, Op. 37 Anh. Posth. IV-7
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concerto No. 4 In G Major: For Beethoven: Concerto No. 4 In G Major, Op. 58 WoO Posth. 12 - First Movement
Nine Cadenzas For Piano Concertos - Concerto No. 4 In G Major: For Beethoven: Concerto No. 4 In G Major, Op. 58 WoO Posth. 12 - Third Movement

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15 - Maestoso
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15 - Adagio
Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 1 In D Minor, Op. 15 - Rondo: Allegro non troppo

Tracks:

Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 83 - Allegro non troppo
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 83 - Allegro appasionato
Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major: Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 83 - Andante
Johannes Brahms: Piano Concerto No. 2 In B Flat Major Op. 83 - Allegretto grazioso

Amazon.com

This set is a remarkable bargain, containing all of Brahms's solo piano music, including such chips from his workshop as cadenzas for other composers' concertos and a series of strictly mechanical piano studies that nobody will want to listen through. No matter. Idil Biret has a firm grasp of Brahms's idiom, and she plays with insight and passion throughout the set. Although she doesn't startle with her virtuosity, she handles the considerable technical demands of the music with great confidence. The orchestra and conductor make strong contributions on their two discs. The set comes with a fat booklet telling you nearly everything you'll want to know about the music. Too bad the individual variations in sets aren't tracked, but it's hard to think of another complaint about this monumental achievement, a startlingly reasonable way of getting to know Brahms better. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful.......2007-06-11

I love this woman!!! Her playing is perfect, so is her technique!!! Lovely, just lovely.

Decent as a Collection.......2007-05-17

Referring back to my previous, extensive review (May 11, 2007) on Ms Biret's complete Chopin Piano Music survey, most of the problems described can be found also in her complete Brahms survey. The good news is that Brahms's music better can cope with Biret's weird pianism; the chief reason being the greater structural strictness of Brahms's music relative to that of Chopin. Still, her 'over-liberal' (or erratically exaggerated more accurately labeled) playing in terms of tempo, rubato and pedaling is disturbing throughout the set. Furthermore, her technique is better suited to Brahms than Chopin--even though its limitations become rather obvious in the, indeed fiendish, Paganini Variations.

Nevertheless, this set can actually be recommended as a decent alternative for those who desire the complete piano works of Brahms (because complete it is indeed!). One cannot be too picky here as the competition is markedly limited: Mr Jones's Brahms survey on Nimbus may offer more idiomatic interpretations, but is unfortunately severely marred by innumerous miss-hits that are too disturbing for pleasant repeated listening. A better recommendation, then, is Mr Oppitz (also playing a Bösendorfer--see below) on RCA (originally Eurodisc), although quite far from being masterful. One is better off collecting bits and pieces from Alexeev (EMI--nla) and Kovacevich (Philips). I would specifically like to recommend Grimaud's beautiful survey of the Opp 116-119 pieces (Erato).

Lastly, the piano sound is basically the same as in the Chopin set--a Bösendorfer captured with a highly metallic, fabricated quality. Even if Biret's playing is decent--seldom better or worse--the two stars are chiefly awarded for the good collection value of this bargain-priced box set.

A great introduction.......2000-10-16

Having the complete works of such at a times dense piano composer as Brahms is perhaps not the best way to go, but with Mrs. Biret at the piano, and at Naxos prices, is a wise decision. You are able to know the composer in a deep way.

Most of the performance are excellent, and you will not find one that is below average. The recording is very good and with ample sonic space.

I have heard it twice already, and allowed me to explore Brahms.

Highly recomended

Music Track: