Tell me Your Favourite Beethoven Piano Concerto No.1?

EJ,

It's possible that the mastering on this particular series CD are more orchestra centric. The piano sounds muted in relation to the orchestra. However, the overall sound is well balanced, spacious midrange and warmish tone so I did not expect any production faults. 

I think on a whole, this is a nice sounding CD. It's just that piano comes out as a *lucky strike extra*.

Sort of like 'buy one get one free' deal. 

Do you have other Bronfman Beethoven work you can recommend?

Kuma, I am not familiar with his recordings beyond a stellar Prokofiev series. Have you already tried Lewis? His cycle is really quite special.

Now listening to Arrau's latest thoughts on Beethoven's sonatas... you can hear an old man struggling with the notes, but beyond that, there is this thrill of the man's total domination over the music, so to the point and beautiful in concept and execution. I am looking forward to his recordings with Davis and hope to catch some of this thrill there, as well. 

EJ

EJ,

A fellow who recommended the Zinman/Bronfman can't recall much on piano playing but remembering Zinman's orchestration.

No. I haven't listened to Lewis' version yet.

Keep me posted of Arrau's Concerto No.1 from his last Beethoven cycle recording.

Will do but may take a while. I've found the individual discs (I want #3 on a single disc!) but they're on the slow boat from the US.

EJ

George,

It sounds a bit like an oxymoron. I have to look for the Hess/Boult No.4 now to see what you are on about!

btw, there is a free concert every Wed. in Preston Bradley Hall at Chicago Cultural Centre in her name.

Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts

Does his 9th count?

Stu

Noooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why not ?

Stu, I could be wrong but I thought we were not allowed to talk about any number greater than five here? 

kuma said one.

Aimee Mann said one is a wonderful number.

She was right and the 9th is still my fav and the only ONE i know well.

Stu.

Nooooooooooooo.

"ONE is the loneliest number". Not a 'wonderful' number.

Harry Nilsson said so way before Aimee did.

kuma,

I knew that and got SHE LOVES YOU live from the Beatles when i clicked on it.

Its good to see you have not gone total classical 

Stu.

So kuma, if you love classical music so much (no problem), why do you have such a distaste for classical Japanese literature?

i've heard the Aimee Mann version on this CD. 

'For the Love of Harry: Everybody sings Nilsson'. one of the best *cover* complication album.

I have just gone through my classical vinyl.

I don't have a No1.

I do have the Emperor concerto No5 in e flat,Op,73,Daniel Barenboim.Otto Klemperer on EMI vinyl from 1968.

It has the same cover picture as this.

Sounds very good.

Stu.

Kuma, let's not forget this thread... look forward to seeing your opinion on Zimerman's first. The five concertos were planned as a collaboration with Lenny Bernstein but, unfortunately, the maestro passed away before the (live) recordings were completed. Zimerman recorded 1 and 2 in the studio with himself as conductor.

Cheers,

EJ

Kuma,

Can't comment on the 1st, but Arrau's 'Emperor' with Davis and the Staatskapelle Dresden is remarkable.

Yes he was a really old man, yes he missed a few notes, yes his technique wasn't quite pristine. BUT...

Wow, this man certainly knew his Beethoven. It's clear he lived and breathed this music. No other Emperor I have heard comes close to this as an emotional experience. Forget the imperfections, it is  amazing. Please try and listen to it.

Hopefully all 5 concertos are the same.

Seconded, and the imperfections hardly register.

EJ

*

EJ,

I haven't forgotten this thread. I have been listening to Backhaus' No.1 with Schmidt-Isserstedt from the LP Box Set.

Upbeat fast tempoed 1st movement. Clarity and precision yet it's very much down to earth. He leaves nothing in ambiguity. Straight forward, gutsy and honest. Rondo is sufficiently funky and fun.  Isserstedt's direction is crisp and well articulated complimenting Backhaus. Together they form rhythmic and tight musical presentation.

Encouraged, I pulled out the No.5, but somehow it doesn't have the same magic of No.1. Even lacking the fluidity and immediacy of his earlier mono issue with Clemens Krauss altho he makes a compelling case with the Adagio.


I am looking forward to listen to Zimerman, too. Also, Schnabel/Sargent and Pierre-laurent Aimard/Harnoncourt CD arrived so I am planing to listen to those over the long weekend.

Ok.
Arrau is back in que with Davis. I try to get the No.1.

My favourite Emperor so far is oddly the Gieseking/Galliera with The Philharmonia which is a beautifully done Abbey Road Studio recording. Up till this piece I wasn't too convinced of him doing anything but Debussy and he has no flash value like other  pianists. It's a butterfly like gentle Beethoven but he kept me with his expressive lyricism.

Also it has been a while but Gould/Stokowski which looks like an odd couple yet somehow it works. Fun and different for sure.

Kuma, for a 'modern odd couple' look at Aimard/Harnoncourt on Teldec.

WW,

I've got this CD and planing to give it a listen over the weekned.

What's your take on it?

Kuma, I'm waiting for a well-known 'rain-forest' website to send me my recently purchased copy. Amazing price by the way.

It's a strange coupling of artists - Aimard the modernist, Harnoncourt the traditionalist - and from what I read they are more successful with the first 3 concertos than the latter 2.

I'll post my comments in due course.

Over the weekend I really enjoyed this Harnoncourt/Aimard's Piano Concertos.

This is an excellent digital recording with a subtle spacial cue and ambiance. A natural Immediate midrange and believable tonal colours without much distortions anywhere. Captures a lot of micro details close up as well as the scale of the orchestra. 

Teldek studio in Berlin has done a great job.

Beautiful and mature orchestration by Harnoncourt. I was expecting some zippy HIP influenced performance but he maintains pretty *normal* tempo throughout. Nothing else 1st movement is a bit on a long side. Nothing overpowering, everything proper with lots of textures woven in. And he gets  sufficient weight and authority, too. Starts off with one of the best 1st movement symphonic intro so far.

Piano entrance, OTOH, is not as fiearce as the orchestra but Aimard maintains fluid melody line throughout. Sophisticated for sure but I miss a bit of fire & charisma worthy of Beethoven program. Notes are slightly slurring on cadenza giving an impression of less precision and clarity. Not as crisp and lively as Perahia or Michelangeli or Backhaus so Aimard's playing somehow does not come on strongly. 

Simple and straight forward 2nd movement with minimum decoration and filgrees. Pensive expressive Adagio but I still think that Perahia nails it for me. Rondo isn't funky enough for me but all'n'all this is a beautifully executed set and finish off with one hell of a bang. I think I am more admiring what Harnoncourt is doing here than the pinaist, tho.

Harnoncourt lets the note breath. Rather than planting a note head on, he eases on to it. This creats a swelling effect as if the music seems to be breathing and living tangible thing.

This is a different program, but here, Harnoncourt rehearsing Beethoven's 5th with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe featured in the CD.

"The beauty is on the edge of catastrophe"

"A pause is a pause, I won a price for that!"

This dude's cool.

Thanks for the review, Kuma. Still waiting for my copy from Mr. Rainforest.