Search - Ludwig van Beethoven, Paul van Kempen, Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra :: Beethoven: Die Klavierkonzerte

Beethoven of the Gods

D. Ansoff | San Diego, CA USA | 07/25/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The complete set of Beethoven piano concertos herein are re-masters of a series originally recorded by Kempff in the 1950's. (These recordings should not be confused with the Kempff/Leitner series produced in stereo in the 1960's). The CD transfers are clear and clean, rendering their age unimportant. What does matter is that these performances are magical, full of an astounding imagination deployed by Kempff at the height of his powers. Here we find a vision of Beethoven as a majestic poet, speaking to us from the Beyond through Kempff. Just listen to the sense of joyful daring offered by Kempff in the first and third movements of the second concerto! These performances offer unmatched depth of spirit, imagination and even playfulness, with a sense of hidden, finely controlled power running beneath them. Edward Greenfield rightly heaped praise on these interpretations in his Gramophone review. For my part I am reminded of Alfred Brendel's notes on Kempff in the "Great Pianists of the 20th Century" series. I believe Brendel wrote that "at his best, Kempff plays better than the rest of us." In the case of these Beethoven Piano Concertos, Brendel is absolutely right! Not to be missed on any account!"

Divine

D. Ansoff | 10/22/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the finest recordings and performance of the concertos. Kempff's playing is transcendent and goes beyond what mere interpretation is. It delves into the essence of the music and provides the emotional and spiritual nuances and energy that is at the heart of all great music. That such music is possible, and that it can be executed in such a manner is amazing in itself."

The definitive set . Don't seek anymore.

Hiram Gomez Pardo | Valencia, Venezuela | 05/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There have been very good teams around this set. Consider Fleisher-Szell in the sixties
But the remarkable aspect is the happy combination of the craft singing piano of Wilhelm Kempff still in his sixties, with a conductor so underestimated as Paul van Kempen (died in 1955).
Van Kempen and the Berlin Philrmonic had a very close relationship in the fifties and reciprocal admiration.
van Kempen a frequent director of the famous Concertgebouw of Amsterdam, could combine the sublime and powerful of the Berlin Philarmonic, who certainly lived its golden age under the unique Wilhelm Furtwangler.
In these conditions , the happy meeting of this trio made it possible, a result who goes beyond all the worthy efforts that Kempff repeated a decade after but lacking expresiveness, power and sense of bliss.
All the concerts are played with powerful elegance, poetry,comittment and a sense of cosmical gaze.
Don't miss this set. It's unvaluable. The best results are the second, third fourth and specially the fifth concert, Emperor."