Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, The Monteverdi Choir, Orchestre Revolutionnaire et Romantique :: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 5 "Emperor" - Choral Fantasy / R. Levin, Gardiner

The idea of concerto

David Wihowski | Milwaukee, WI USA | 05/18/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I listened to these recordings the idea of concerto (to compare/contrast the soloist and the orchestra; even pit them against each other) immediately came to my mind.Finally I felt that there was a real concerto here. In the past when listening to "modern" orchestral recordings of Beethoven piano concerti I felt that there was no "struggle" between the two forces. There were "big" solo statements and big orchestral statements and big tutti statements, and as much as I liked them something was missing.The period instruments, including the period piano, made it happen. The period piano is a weaker more delicate instrument than a modern concert grand. The period orchestra had more clarity and a less massive sound. Now the two came together to make a real concerto. The period piano striving (how Beethoven!) to do more than it really could do. The orchestra attempting to immitate the piano's delicacy and not quite succeeding. Now there was a story here. Now there was art.I also almost laughed out loud to think of Beethoven REALLY strecthing the limits of his (period) piano and orchestra. Beethoven isn't so much of a "stretch" for the modern orchestra as it is for the period orchestra. The period performance makes Beethoven more real and human to me because I feel more of his reaching and striving.Gardiner may not have got it exactly as Beethoven intended, but I think much more of the spirit of Beethoven is here than in any recording with modern instruments."

Superb playing by Levin and Gardner!

Andrew M. Klein | Washington, DC USA | 10/13/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Levin is a wonder, with technique and improvisational skills to dazzle those who have become used to stodgy performances of these wonderful works on modern instruments. The speed of some of the movements is breathtaking, but it always sounds right. (I wonder whether they are being played as Beethoven marked them -- often rejected as "too fast.") Gardner, of course, is precisely the right conductor and partner in this recreation of what this music probably sounded like when first played. Spectacular!"

Essential to any library

Matt | Virginia | 01/01/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the most intruiging CD's in my music library. It is VERY highly recommended. The Emperor Concerto is lively (a big understatement), and brilliantly performed. The tempi are stunning; the second movement takes a little longer than 6 minutes (the normal time is about 9 minutes, give or take a minute). This is mainly due to the capabilities of the fortepiano vs. the pianoforte. The ORR sounds as superb as they always do. As this is a war-horse, and there is no truly "best recording," I'd compliment this version with performamces by Pollini, Rubinstein, Kempff, or Brendel. This, however, is a VERY good recording that is well worth owning.



Now the Choral Fantasy. This piece has been overshadowed by larger similar works, like the Missa Solemnis and Symphony No. 9. Consequently, this is one of the most underappreciated pieces in the Beethoven repertoire. The performance here is BY FAR the best recordings of this piece I have ever heard. As if having Beethoven's version of the opening cadenza wasn't good enough, you also get two completely improvised openings that are stellar. The chorus and orchestra here are still up to the ORR standards.



Overall, I think this CD is an essential part of any serious classical music library."