Wilhelm Kempff, the legendary pianist who bestowed upon listeners one of the greatest recorded sets of the complete
Beethoven sonatas, was often said to have had the ability to keep his performances austere and reliable while simultaneously maintaining a sense of freshness and spontaneity. This previously unreleased live performance of
Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto with the
Radio-Symphonie-Orchester Berlin under
Lorin Maazel confirms that sentiment.
Kempff's playing is every bit as refined and detail-oriented as his recording of the sonatas, but still gives listeners the sense that he is experiencing the piece for the first time himself. This is especially noticeable in the ethereal middle movement of the
concerto. Unlike so many recordings of this
concerto,
Kempff's interpretation is much more restrained, allowing the music to speak for itself rather than drawing attention to the technical prowess of the soloist. Even
Kempff's first-movement cadenza demonstrates the integrity and respect with which he approached all of
Beethoven's music. Recorded in 1971 and remastered to include a brilliantly present, warm sound, this album is certainly one that existing fans of
Kempff will want to add to their collection. The CD also contains
Haydn's Symphony No. 94, the so-called "Surprise"
symphony. Although it is a solid, well-executed performance, its placement after
Kempff's
Beethoven on the disc makes it seem like somewhat of an afterthought. ~ Mike D. Brownell, All Music Guide
