Recommendation

Posted by: man2wolf on 11 January 2002

Can anybody recommend a good recording of the Beethoven Piano Concerto No.5 (Emperor). I am a classical novice but particularly like this piece. I am more interested in the quality of the recording rather than the performance. I have heard a version by Stephen Kovaevich (?) on EMI Eminence but the recording was rather "thin".
Thanks

Posted on: 11 January 2002 by graeme w

Hello man2wolf

I'm not a great classical fan, but for good natural sound recording, try murray perahia/concertgebouw orchestra/bernard haitink, on sony classical masterworks, sk42330.

Cheers
Graeme

Posted on: 11 January 2002 by Former member

Man2Wolf (cool name, dude!), if your priority is recording quality over performance, I would suggest the recording by Harvey Plotnik with the Ostrobothnian High School Orchestra conducted by Hermione Schtupp on the EMI Crap Performance of the Century label (also on SACD).

In the unlikely event you want a good performance as well, you might try Wilhelm Kempff's recording with the BPO under Leitner on DG, although the recording quality is not great (or his earlier mono recording - an even greater performance in even worse sound). The Perahia recording suggested above is also good, and I very much like Claudio Arrau's recording with Colin Davis conducting on Phillips.

Ross

Posted on: 11 January 2002 by herm

DIY

If you want the best sound, irrespective of the performance, your best bet is playing it yourself. Listen to that natural piano sound!

However, the Zimerman / Bernstein / VPO recording (don't ask me about availability) has great orchestral and piano sound and performance. Even ol' Lenny is quite restrained.

Herm