Search - Philharmonia Orchestra , NBC Symphony Orchestra , Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York , Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire of Paris , London Philharmonic Orchestra Saxon State Orchestra , Alceo Galliera, Vladimir Golschmann, Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Felix Weingartner, Carlo Zecchi Karl Böhm, Ludwig van Beethoven :: Beethoven Piano Concertos

Philharmonia Orchestra , NBC Symphony Orchestra , Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York , Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire of Paris , London Philharmonic Orchestra Saxon State Orchestra , Alceo Galliera, Vladimir Golschmann, Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Felix Weingartner, Carlo Zecchi Karl Böhm, Ludwig van Beethoven
Beethoven Piano Concertos
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (6) - Disc #1
1. Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. 15 (Ania Dorfmann, piano; Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony): Allegro con brio
2. Largo
3. Rondo - Allegro scherzando
4. Piano Concerto No. 2 in B-flat, Op. 19 (William Kapell, piano; Vladimir Golschmann / NBC Symphony): Allegro con brio
5. Largo
6. Rondo - Allegro scherzando
Track Listings (6) - Disc #2
1. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (Marguerite Long, piano; Felix Weingartner / Orchestre du Conservatoire): Allegro con brio
2. Largo
3. Rondo - Allegro
4. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37 (Artur Rubenstein, piano; Arturo Toscanini / NBC Symphony): Allegro con brio
5. Piano Concerto No. 3 in C Minor, Op. 37: Largo
6. Rondo - Allegro
Track Listings (6) - Disc #3
1. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, op. 58 (Walter Gieseking, piano; Karl B?hm / Saxon State Orchestra): Allegro moderato
2. Andante con moto
3. Rondo - vivace
4. Piano Concerto No. 4 in G, op. 58 (Clara Haskil, piano; Carlo Zecchi / London Philharmonic Orchestra): Allegro moderato
5. Andante con moto
6. Rondo - vivace
Track Listings (6) - Disc #4
1. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 "Emperor" (Rudolf Serkin, piano; Bruno Walter / NY Philharmonic): Allegro
2. Adagio un poco mosso
3. Rondo - Allegro
4. Piano Concerto No. 5 in E flat, Op. 73 "Emperor" (Artur Schnabel, piano; Alceo Galliera / Philharmonic Orchestra): Allegro
5. Adagio un poco mosso
6. Rondo - Allegro

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CD Details

All Artists: Philharmonia Orchestra , NBC Symphony Orchestra , Philharmonic-Symphony Orchestra of New York , Orchestre de la Société des Concerts du Conservatoire of Paris , London Philharmonic Orchestra Saxon State Orchestra , Alceo Galliera, Vladimir Golschmann, Arturo Toscanini, Bruno Walter, Felix Weingartner, Carlo Zecchi Karl Böhm, Ludwig van Beethoven, Walter Gieseking, Clara Haskil, Marguerite Long, Artur Rubenstein, Artur Schnabel, Rudolf Serkin Ania Dorfmann
Title: Beethoven Piano Concertos
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Andante
Original Release Date: 9/18/2001
Re-Release Date: 10/1/2001
Album Type: Box set
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Concertos, Historical Periods, Classical (c.1770-1830), Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Instruments, Keyboard, Symphonies
Number of Discs: 4
SwapaCD Credits: 4
UPCs: 699487199521, 6994871995210

Synopsis

Album Description

Few major orchestral works pack in more poetry, heroism, seriousness, humor and drama than Beethoven's five Piano Concertos. Each is a masterpiece in its own right, and interpretations accordingly run a rich gamut. This set showcases several landmark recordings, including a rare 1946 performance of the Second Concerto by William Kapell, a figure who has already enjoyed a critical and popular revival in recent years. Artur Rubinstein recorded the complete Beethoven concertos three times over during his long career, but this fiercely charged 1944 performance of the C minor Concerto with Toscanini stands alone. Also noteworthy are two strikingly dissimilar versions of the Fourth Concerto - by Walter Gieseking and Clara Haskil - and the Fifth Concerto - by Artur Schnabel and Rudolf Serkin.

CD Reviews

Special group of legendary recordings

J. Grant | North Carolina, USA | 03/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 4 disc set of Beethoven's Piano Concertos is truly amazing. The 3rd with Rubinstein and Toscanini (their only collaboration) is simply electric. The 2nd with Kapell and Golschmann is arguably the best ever recorded. The two versions of the 5th offer two strikingly differing interpretations by Serkin and Schnabel. On Serkin's (his first of four recordings he made of the 'Emperor'), Bruno Walter takes a pace much faster than he usually employs, resulting in a recording with perfect symmetry between orchestra and soloist. Serkin's trademark nervous energy is in full force here. Schnabel, employing more fluid phrasing and judicious use of rubato is equally compelling. This recording with Galliera, while not as well known as his earlier versions with Sargent (1927) and Stock (1942), is my favorite of the three. Also on display are two excellent versions of the 4th. On the Haskil/Zecchi, Clara's unique style of probing musicality is on full display contrasted by Gieseking's (with Bohm) more classical approach. Finally the No.1 is performed by Ania Dorfmann with Toscanini (she was the first female soloist the Maestro ever used). Typical with Toscanini, the pace is rather brisk, perhaps a bit too much so in this case. Nevertheless, still enjoyable, though not a top choice for most listeners. The transfers by andante are very good, though some tape hiss and surface noise are still present (which is to be expected of recordings from this era)."