Beethoven Piano Your resource for the piano music of Ludwig van Beethoven

asin: B0000648YA binding: DVD list price: $24.99 USD amazon price: $24.99

This concert, with Sir Georg Solti as guest conductor of The London Symphony Orchestra, marked the climax of the fifth anniversary celebrations at London's Barbican Centre. Murray Perahia, recognized as one of the most sought-after pianists, having come to international prominence as the first American to win the Leeds International Pianoforte competition, plays Beethoven's "Piano Concerto No. 1 in C" in his typically probing, elegantly poised style.

asin: B000001K4G binding: Audio CD list price: $10.98 USD amazon price: $10.98 USD

Even Alfred Brendel may not approve of the Beethoven performances heard on these discs. Brendel is several decades older and wiser now, and may well find these products of his relative youth as callow as I do. The magnificent Diabelli Variations, one of Beethoven's greatest compositions, is trivialized by this undercharacterized playing, which lets so many important moments go by without saying anything special about them. It's worth the extra money to spring for a great performance of this music, like Richter on Praga PR 254 023 or Oelbaum on Bridge BCD 9010. The smaller pieces also sound bland. Even at a low price this set is no great bargain. --Leslie Gerber

asin: B00008PW4C binding: Audio CD list price: $26.99 USD amazon price: $26.99

5 CD Box set.