A great Beethoven Piano Concerto 3 ??

[Verena]

Any suggestions? I have none, really  Well, I enjoyed Edwin Fischer on Testament last time I heard him. I also enjoy Pollini's early recording - one of the few Pollini recordings I like, although I suspect there are more sublime versions out there. So what are your suggestions for great versions?

[Todd]

Any of the below might fit the bill:

A Fischer / Fricsay (DG)
Moravec / Neumann (Supraphon)
Sherman / Neumann (Vanguard)
Kempff / van Kempen (DG)
Schnabel / Sargent (Various)
Haskil / Markevitch (Philips/Decca)
Kuerti / Davis (CBC)

[DavidRoss]

A couple of alternatives:

As much as I want to be trendy and despise her, I can't help but like Uchida with Sanderling.
I also like Bronfman with Zinman.
These are just personal tastes.  I claim neither encyclopedic familiarity with recordings nor definitive knowledge of "greatness." 

I'm not acquainted with most of those Todd recommends.  Can't say I've ever really warmed to Arrau or Fleischer, though Szell/Gilels is okay.  Kempff/van Kempen didn't blow me away as expected but I'm due for another go.  I also expected magic from Goode/Fischer but didn't hear it.  And if I wanted a new cycle I might consider Aimard/Harnoncourt. The thing is, every time I'm hot to get a new set, I play Uchida and Bronfman and find that I'm already well satisfied.

[Philoctetes]

Uchida is my favorite, followed closely by Harnoncourt.

[Dancing Divertimentian]

Moravec / Neumann (Supraphon)

Wow. This is one that escaped me. Thanks for the mention.

For me:

Katchen/Gamba (Decca).

[Scarpia]

I liked Ashkenazy/Solti more than I expected to.

[Verena]

Any of the below might fit the bill:

A Fischer / Fricsay (DG)
Moravec / Neumann (Supraphon)
Sherman / Neumann (Vanguard)
Kempff / van Kempen (DG)
Schnabel / Sargent (Various)
Haskil / Markevitch (Philips/Decca)
Kuerti / Davis (CBC)

Thanks very much. Lots of recordings to explore here, since I'm unfamiliar with all of those except the Kempff and the Annie Fischer - given that Kempff is my favorite in Beethoven 5, I have to give him another spin as well.

[Verena]

A couple of alternatives:

As much as I want to be trendy and despise her, I can't help but like Uchida with Sanderling.
I also like Bronfman with Zinman.
These are just personal tastes.  I claim neither encyclopedic familiarity with recordings nor definitive knowledge of "greatness." 

I'm not acquainted with most of those Todd recommends.  Can't say I've ever really warmed to Arrau or Fleischer, though Szell/Gilels is okay.  Kempff/van Kempen didn't blow me away as expected but I'm due for another go.  I also expected magic from Goode/Fischer but didn't hear it.  And if I wanted a new cycle I might consider Aimard/Harnoncourt. The thing is, every time I'm hot to get a new set, I play Uchida and Bronfman and find that I'm already well satisfied.

Thanks! I'm rather curious about the Uchida/Sanderling now. I could imagine that this work might suit Uchida were well.

[Verena]

Uchida is my favorite, followed closely by Harnoncourt.

Another vote for Uchida - makes me even more curious..

[Verena]

For me:

Katchen/Gamba (Decca).

This is available cheaply as an mp3 via amazon, along with the other concertos apart from No 4. I guess I have to try it.

[Verena]

I liked Ashkenazy/Solti more than I expected to.

I often like Ashkenazy. I do have a problem with Solti, though I guess the pianist is more important here.

[mc ukrneal]

There are a number of good versions of this, some already mentioned. I would add:

Kovacevich/Davis
Serkin/Bernstein

[Holden]

Solomon/Menges
Perahia/Haitink
Annie Fischer/Fricsay

I have a Moravec recorded with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic conducted by Imre Pallo which I really like. It was played live in 1983.

[Mandryka]

The is the last classical-style  concerto to be written, right?

My favourite is Berezowsky/Dausgaard, because it is classical, witty. Brio.

I also like Moiseiwitsch/Sargent (which has the Reinicke cadenza) because Mosieiwitsch is a very beautiful Beethoven pianist

[Scarpia]

I often like Ashkenazy. I do have a problem with Solti, though I guess the pianist is more important here.

Solti is far from my favorite conductor, but he is rarely out of line when accompanying a soloist, and this is music that calls for more brio than subtlety anyway.

[George]

Annie Fischer/Fricsay

I will third this one. A stellar performance. You know where to find me, Verena. 

[George]

Wow. This is one that escaped me. Thanks for the mention.

OOP, I think. 

[Verena]

Solti is far from my favorite conductor, but he is rarely out of line when accompanying a soloist, and this is music that calls for more brio than subtlety anyway.

Yeah, that's true.

[Verena]

There are a number of good versions of this, some already mentioned. I would add:

Kovacevich/Davis
Serkin/Bernstein

Serkin is one of my favorite pianists, another one I have to try. I'm relatively unfamiliar with Kovacevich - but I read good things about his Beethoven 5th concerto with Davis as well.

[Verena]

The is the last classical-style  concerto to be written, right?

My favourite is Berezowsky/Dausgaard, because it is classical, witty. Brio.

I also like Moiseiwitsch/Sargent (which has the Reinicke cadenza) because Mosieiwitsch is a very beautiful Beethoven pianist

Thanks! I bet the Moiseiwitsch is great. I'm also curious about the Berezowsky.