Audio CD review:
Janos Starker, Ludwig van Beethoven, Bernard Haitink, Colin Davis, Eliahu Inbal, Heinz Dressel, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra - Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2

Janos Starker, Ludwig van Beethoven, Bernard Haitink, Colin Davis, Eliahu Inbal, Heinz Dressel, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra - Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2

Band: Janos Starker, Ludwig van Beethoven, Bernard Haitink, Colin Davis, Eliahu Inbal, Heinz Dressel, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra Title: Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2 Rating: Release Date: 11 October, 1994 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat, Op. 7: Allegro 2: Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat, Op. 7: Adagio Un Poco Mosso 3: Piano Concerto No. 5 In E Flat, Op. 7: Rondo. Allegro 4: Concerto In C , Op. 56 For Piano, Violin, And Cello With Orchestra: Allegro 5: Concerto In C , Op. 56 For Piano, Violin, And Cello With Orchestra: Largo 6: Concerto In C , Op. 56 For Piano, Violin, And Cello With Orchestra: Rondo alla Polacca 7: Violin Concerto In D, Op. 61: Allegro Ma Non Troppo 8: Violin Concerto In D, Op. 61: Larghetto 9: Violin Concerto In D, Op. 61: Rondo. Allegro 10: Piano Concerto In E Flat, WoO 4: Allegro Moderato 11: Piano Concerto In E Flat, WoO 4: Larghetto 12: Piano Concerto In E Flat, WoO 4: Rondo. Allegretto

Customer Reviews Fantastic "Emperor"? Absolutely Kovacevich doesn't make any pretense of playing Beethoven "politely" (as some other pianists have done, to the detriment of the music, I feel); he dives into this score and powers his way through it with an energy and ferocity I haven't found anywhere else. This is hands-down THE most compelling, fiery, regal Emperor concerto I've heard. Listen to the sharp accents and incredible power in the opening of the concerto's third movement, or the fortissimo series of chords near the end of the first movement's development section. There just isn't a moment when Kovacevich isn't giving 100 percent of his energy and concentration to the music, and the result is an amazingly focused, powerful performance. Davis and the London Symphony are similarly brilliant, delivering a hammerblow performance of their own that complements Kovacevich note for note. The obvious exception to all this energy, of course, is the slow middle movement, which is treated with almost palpable musical tenderness--but no less precision. The other performances on this CD set are competently done as well, particularly the "Little" E Flat Major piano concerto, which is a lightweight sparkler that's a real treat to listen to. But I have other personal favorite performances of most of the other works on this 2-CD set, whereas this Emperor concerto is unbeatable. Look at the other works as enjoyable added bonuses to complement the Emperor, this performance of which is worth the price of this CD set by itself. Excelente seleccion... Continuamos con una joyita, el triple concierto (para abreviar) es bellisimo, es simple pero claro para escuchar porque hacer que el cello no desaparezca al lado del violin ya es complicado y se le añadimos al piano, la obra de un maestro. Este CD doble incluye 4 obras de concierto de Beethoven insuperables, primero una version de coleccion del concierto N° 5 "Emperador" Kovacevich es un solista de excepcion y Colin Davis hace que cualquier orquesta suene esplendida, resumiendo un concierto grandioso. Szering, Starker y Arrau hacen su trabajo aunque al chileno le toca hacer el menor. La New Philharmonia es una gran orquesta e Inbal es un director correcto y pulcro. Seguimos la audición y tenemos el formidable concierto para violin, tenemos a Krebbers en una interpretacion soberbia, y que junto al inigualable Bernard Haitink hacen que esta sea otra pieza grandiosa, Haitink es en todo caso mas solemne que algunos otros directores que harian de este concierto y lo han hecho una pieza mas elocuente. Finalizamos con un plus, no soy experto en Beethoven y no conocia este concierto para piano, es una bella obra algo menor pero que tomando el contexto nada mejor para una coleccion de todas las obras de Beethoven. Un CD de precio economico sencillamente genial. A Very Good Compilation with An Exceptional Emperor Concerto ) and Piano Concerto 0. I have heard most of the performances on this two CD compilation elsewhere, with the notable exceptions of Herman Krebbers' performance of the Violin Concerto (However, judging from his work as the soloist in Kondrashin's celebrated Philips recording of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, I am sure that his performance of Beethoven's violin concerto is exceptional. I have heard better performances of Beethoven's Triple Concerto, most notably from the Beaux Arts Trio (most recent Philips recording with Kurt Masur conducting the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra) and the Trio Fontenay (with Elihu Inbal conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra); I don't think the chemistry is good amongst pianist Claudio Arrau and his fellow soloists, though theirs is a credible performance. Without a doubt, the finest performance on this two CD compilation is Kovacevich's spellbinding performance of Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto. His dramatic playing is steeped in lyricism and first-rate technique; it is among the fastest versions I have heard. Kovacevich's confident playing is superbly backed by Sir Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra. . You can see a complete list of all Janos Starker, Ludwig van Beethoven, Bernard Haitink, Colin Davis, Eliahu Inbal, Heinz Dressel, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra discography, or go back to the Janos Starker, Ludwig van Beethoven, Bernard Haitink, Colin Davis, Eliahu Inbal, Heinz Dressel, Concertgebouw Orchestra Amsterdam, Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra tabs