Search - Beethovan, Tchaikovsky, Gilels :: Konzert Fur Klavier & Orchester

Good performances from the 1970s but not worth $37

Larry VanDeSande | Mason, Michigan United States | 07/05/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I owned this shortly after it became available in Europe, hoping it would recapture the magic Bohm used in the 1970s when he recorded the Tchaikovksy Symphony No. 4 with the London Symphony Orchestra.



These performances, with the Czech Philharmonic, are quite a bit different. The Tchaikovsky is highly driven and quite dramatic, a large departure from the more deliberately paced recording Bohm made for Decca/London with LSO. The Tchaikovsky is fine in its own right but, for me, lacked some of the tension from his older recording, which was never released on CD.



As to the Beethoven, I thought Gilels and Bohm turned in a fine performance but other critics thought otherwise. I'm not a great admirer of the concerto, although I would never say it is unimportant or bad music. It just doesn't do much for me, so I doubt my impression of this performance is any yardstick.



The goings on, from an evening at the 1973 Salzburg Festival, are captured in wonderful, vivid sound. The sound stage is large and three dimensional, better than what you would hear in the concert hall. So, if you have any interest in this, don't hold back because of the sound.



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