Beethoven Piano Concertos 4 and 5.

[Rod Corkin]

For the 5th there is only ONE recording:

[DarkAngel]

Would I be laughed at for recommending Gould?   

I really enjoy the Gould set which is assembled from several conductors over time, not a first choice but well worth getting for a collector who wants to hear some interesting versions. Gould's Beethoven 5th piano concerto with Ancerl/Sony is better performance than one in set, but sound is from TV show track so not as high quality.......but the opening run of the 1st movement is just sublime, probably best opening I have heard for any PC 5 version.

[The new erato]

For the 5th there is only ONE recording:

I adore this record, but nobody should have this as their only version. OTOH one shouldn't have a traditional version without this, either!

[DarkAngel]

My vote goes to the recent Bronfman/Zinman recordings.  Second choice would be Pollini/Abbado, 3rd is Gilels/Szell, and 4th would be either of the Kempff sets.

I bought the Bronfman/Zinman/Arte Nova piano concerto CDs when they first came out, thought they were great and just filed them away, but now that Tyson mentions them again I re-listened and they do hold up well against almost any version out there old or new. Definitely pick these up since they have great modern sound and sold at mid price.

The whole Zinman/Arte Nova Beethoven series is great: Symphonies, Piano Concertos, and Overtures.

[Mark]

The whole Zinman/Arte Nova Beethoven series is great: Symphonies, Piano Concertos, and Overtures.

And all are included in this stupidly cheap set:



Today, I finally got to hear the whole of Ashkenazy's Fifth, with the big Russian conducting from the keyboard (not bad going: only taken me ten years to be bothered to track it down ). I have to say it won me over immediately, not least for the gorgeous way he handles the central movement. Not necessarily going to topple the Sherman/Neumann account; but in my affections at least, it's a close run thing. Oh, and the Choral Fantasy is the best I've yet heard, too:

[Rod Corkin]

I adore this record, but nobody should have this as their only version. OTOH one shouldn't have a traditional version without this, either!

Well the Schoonderwoerd CD isn't perfect, but to my mind it comes closest to the true spirit of the 5th.

[The new erato]

Well the Schoonderwoerd CD isn't perfect, but to my mind it comes closest to the true spirit of the 5th.

I think everyone has their own definition of a works true spirit and that you need to hear a variety of interpretations to find it. And that is part of the fun! I think I feel like you; but admit that this is an individual, and not an universal, conclusion. The only one able to decide this is the great Ludwig van, and he is beyond reach.

[BorisG]

I think everyone has their own definition of a works true spirit and that you need to hear a variety of interpretations to find it. And that is part of the fun! I think I feel like you; but admit that this is an individual, and not an universal, conclusion. The only one able to decide this is the great Ludwig van, and he is beyond reach.

I do not know if that would do much good. In many ways, Ludwig was beyond reach when he lived. Anyway, sometimes the composer is correct, sometimes he is not. Listeners experienced ears will rightly determine for him or herself, not composers or academics.

[The new erato]

I do not know if that would do much good. In many ways, Ludwig was beyond reach when he lived. Anyway, sometimes the composer is correct, sometimes he is not. Listeners experienced ears will rightly determine for him or herself, not composers or academics.

But how can you determine if you only know one interpretation?

[BorisG]

But how can you determine if you only know one interpretation?

I agree with that thought, thus "experienced ears" insert. I was primarily speaking to the aftermath, of composers influence or interference.

[Haffner]

Noted.

Duly.

[Rod Corkin]

I think everyone has their own definition of a works true spirit and that you need to hear a variety of interpretations to find it. And that is part of the fun! I think I feel like you; but admit that this is an individual, and not an universal, conclusion. The only one able to decide this is the great Ludwig van, and he is beyond reach.

If you had heard this disk you would not be saying this, you'd be agreeing with me. What Beethoven had in mind and the usual fat sloppy mess that is made of the 5th these days are completely different things, as with his Violin Concerto. But it helps for starters if you use the kind of instruments the music was composed for.

Concerning the 4th by far my favourite to date is by Badura-Skoda playing his 1820 Graf piano with the Collegium Aureum. This is an old recording on DHM from the 70s coupled with B's trio concerto. But the sound, especially the piano sound, is beautiful.

[The new erato]

If you had heard this disk you would not be saying this, you'd be agreeing with me.

Please read my first posting........I think it included the word adore (hint)

[sidoze]

Moravec/Ancerl - 4

Hofmann/Barbirolli - 4

no opinion on 5. There are so many wonderful performances of that one, you can't really go wrong, can you? Not so many of 4 however.

[Todd]

no opinion on 5. There are so many wonderful performances of that one, you can't really go wrong, can you?

Alas, yes.

[Rod Corkin]

Please read my first posting........I think it included the word adore (hint)

Sorry I was in a rush, I was aware of your earlier comment, I just didn't notice the person I was responding to was you! But still my point I think is still valid. I would say one can accept the subjective element to only a certain degree, beyond which the opinion must be regarded as erroneous.   

[sidoze]

Alas, yes.

LOL! Will take your word on it! And would take your recommendations if ever inclined to explore further.