A great Beethoven Piano Concerto 3 ??

[MichaelRabin]

I'm relatively unfamiliar with Kovacevich - but I read good things about his Beethoven 5th concerto with Davis as well.

This Emperor is fantastic - even better than Pollini-VPO-Bohm.

[Verena]

This Emperor is fantastic - even better than Pollini-VPO-Bohm.

Then it must be great indeed. The Pollini VPO Boehm was probably the first classical music CD I bought and I still treasure it.

[George]

Then it must be great indeed.

Took the words out of my mouth. 

[MN Dave]

Uchida
Fleischer

Those two stick out in my mind.

[Verena]

Took the words out of my mouth. 

Or else, great minds ...

[George]

Or else, great minds ...

Join me  0:)

[squarez]

I echo the mentions of A.Fischer, Solomon, Kempff/van Kempe, R.Sherman and Moiseiwitsch.

Interestingly no one has yet mentioned Michelangeli/Giullini on DG, that was one of the first captures as I started to collect classical music. Back then it was an other-worldly experience listening to the profundity of his playing of the Largo, and I admit, after having heard 10+ versions of this masterpiece I am still very impressed when I listen to it nowadays. Michelangeli's sometimes been criticized for his cold or impassive approach, but it is hard to find fault with his high-hearted interpretation and marble-like tone in this concerto. Not to mention Guillini and VSO who gave such a support of impeccable style and stunning perfection.

Recently I have been quite taken with Aimard/Harnoncourt's renewal, not only for its highly communicative partnership between piano and orchestra, but for their concept of filling every note with energy and life, and of making everything audible. It comes out intense, refreshing and genuine. No wonder, for the warhorses like Beethoven's PCs, what I have always sought is freshness and creativity, which I found more and more rare in the hands of artists who're likely to be irresolute about taking risk. IMHO this set might not be 'definitive', but could be an very interesting supplement.

In the light of other recommendations I'd like to hear Moravec and Uchida on this.

[Verena]

I echo the mentions of A.Fischer, Solomon, Kempff/van Kempe, R.Sherman and Moiseiwitsch.

Thanks for your comments - I have to give the Michelangeli another spin. Your mention of Sherman makes me very curious about  his interpretation, he was already mentioned by Todd. Unfortunately the CD is only available as a hugely overpriced used copy - the CD is OOP as far as I can see. Any other fans of the Sherman version out there?

[George]

Thanks for your comments - I have to give the Michelangeli another spin. Your mention of Sherman makes me very curious about  his interpretation, he was already mentioned by Todd. Unfortunately the CD is only available as a hugely overpriced used copy - the CD is OOP as far as I can see. Any other fans of the Sherman version out there?

Oh, yes. His complete set of concertos is one of the very best that I have heard.

I don't think it's OOP, though.

USA - http://www.amazon.com/Best-Russell-Sherman-Ludwig-Beethoven/dp/B000HRME3C/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1287263770&sr=1-17

Germany - http://www.amazon.de/Best-Russell-Sherman/dp/B000HRME3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1287263827&sr=8-1

[Verena]

Oh, yes. His complete set of concertos is one of the very best that I have heard.

I don't think it's OOP, though.

USA - http://www.amazon.com/Best-Russell-Sherman-Ludwig-Beethoven/dp/B000HRME3C/ref=sr_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1287263770&sr=1-17

Germany - http://www.amazon.de/Best-Russell-Sherman/dp/B000HRME3C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1287263827&sr=8-1

Great! Thanks! The text at German amazon says that it's currently not available - which is usually their synonym for OOP, but the amazon.com has a really cheap set that I will buy immediately..

[George]

Great! Thanks! The text at German amazon says that it's currently not available - which is usually their synonym for OOP, but the amazon.com has a really cheap set that I will buy immediately..

You may find that the slow movement from PC 2 is defective, as it was so on a lot of the pressings. I have uploaded a non-defective version of the track here in WAV format - http://www.mediafire.com/?a2c40zjmnk4

[Verena]

You may find that the slow movement from PC 2 is defective, as it was so on a lot of the pressings. I have uploaded a non-defective version of the track here in WAV format - http://www.mediafire.com/?a2c40zjmnk4

Thanks very much, George!!

[val]

My favorite: Arrau/Haitink with the Concertgebow Orchestra.

Also very good: Backhaus/Isserstedt, Annie Fischer/Fricsay, Solomon/Menges, Kempff/van Kempen.

[Verena]

My favorite: Arrau/Haitink with the Concertgebow Orchestra.

Also very good: Backhaus/Isserstedt, Annie Fischer/Fricsay, Solomon/Menges, Kempff/van Kempen.

Thanks! Arrau sounds interesting, I'll check this out. Backhaus is a pianist I have only recently learned to appreciate, listening, for example, to his earlier Beethoven sonata traversal. I found it quite wonderful. So if the piano concerto is similarly good, it's a winner.

[George]

Thanks! Arrau sounds interesting, I'll check this out. Backhaus is a pianist I have only recently learned to appreciate, listening, for example, to his earlier Beethoven sonata traversal. I found it quite wonderful. So if the piano concerto is similarly good, it's a winner.

It is. In fact, I think he's better in the concertos than the sonatas. 

[Verena]

It is. In fact, I think he's better in the concertos than the sonatas. 

Wow, now I have to rush and check out these concerto recordings.

[Scarpia]

Wow, now I have to rush and check out these concerto recordings.

Seller's remorse here, I had the grand Decca Box with Isserstedt's Beethoven symphony cycle and the Piano and Violin Concerti.  Symphonies were dreary so I sold it, never took notice that the Concertos were also included.   

[ccar]

One of the pleasures of enjoying music, like theater, poetry or any work of art, is how it can be many times reinterpreted, letting us "discover" how a certain piece can be renewed by that particular reading. But in the more "well-Known" compositions, so much played and recorded, it needs a very individual and special talent to refresh or reinvent in our memory the imprints of so many great interpreters. 

And it was in this joy of discover that I listened an almost unknown version of the Beethoven C minor Concerto by Friedrich Gulda with the Koln Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester, conducted by Mario Rossi.  This 1957 recording comes in very good sound and the performance, at least for me, can rival any of the classic greats in intensity, character and imagination. The thrust of the reading is clear from the beginning both in the orchestra and in the piano. And the musical tension is compelling to the very end. But there is also so much nobility in the tone and in the phrasing that you sometimes feel it like sharing an intimate conversation.

There are so many different and beautiful interpretations of this magnificent concerto. And there is also a latter (1970's) Decca recording of the 3rd Piano Concerto by Gulda (in a complete set) with Hors Stein and the Wiener Philharmoniker. I went back to the shelves and relistened to it with pleasure. But don't be misguided by some less prestigious accolades: Friedrich Gulda and Mario Rossi had a moment of grace in that 1957 concert.   
 

         

[Verena]

One of the pleasures of enjoying music, like theater, poetry or any work of art, is how it can be many times reinterpreted, letting us "discover" how a certain piece can be renewed by that particular reading. But in the more "well-Known" compositions, so much played and recorded, it needs a very individual and special talent to refresh or reinvent in our memory the imprints of so many great interpreters. 

And it was in this joy of discover that I listened an almost unknown version of the Beethoven C minor Concerto by Friedrich Gulda with the Koln Rundfunk Sinfonie Orchester, conducted by Mario Rossi.  This 1957 recording comes in very good sound and the performance, at least for me, can rival any of the classic greats in intensity, character and imagination. The thrust of the reading is clear from the beginning both in the orchestra and in the piano. And the musical tension is compelling to the very end. But there is also so much nobility in the tone and in the phrasing that you sometimes feel it like sharing an intimate conversation.

There are so many different and beautiful interpretations of this magnificent concerto. And there is also a latter (1970's) Decca recording of the 3rd Piano Concerto by Gulda (in a complete set) with Hors Stein and the Wiener Philharmoniker. I went back to the shelves and relistened to it with pleasure. But don't be misguided by some less prestigious accolades: Friedrich Gulda and Mario Rossi had a moment of grace in that 1957 concert.   
 

         

Thanks very much! This sounds very tempting indeed. Gulda is one of my very favorite Beethoven pianists, perhaps the one I listen to most. I love his sonata recordings and also some of the later concerto recordings with Stein. I'll certainly buy this CD.

[MishaK]

Interestingly no one has yet mentioned Michelangeli/Giullini on DG, that was one of the first captures as I started to collect classical music. Back then it was an other-worldly experience listening to the profundity of his playing of the Largo, and I admit, after having heard 10+ versions of this masterpiece I am still very impressed when I listen to it nowadays. Michelangeli's sometimes been criticized for his cold or impassive approach, but it is hard to find fault with his high-hearted interpretation and marble-like tone in this concerto. Not to mention Guillini and VSO who gave such a support of impeccable style and stunning perfection.

I was just reading through this thread and wondering when someone would mention this disc. It is my top choice for the 3rd. I have yet to hear another performance that comes close in terms of poise and naturalness of phrase. It's just beautiful and the piano is in genuine dialogue with the orchestra, not as often with the orchestra relegated to mere background.