![]() | asin: B000TQAXU2 binding: Audio CD |
Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 5 "Empereur". Mozart Piano Concerto No. 23 KV 488
![]() | asin: B000IOG0U2 binding: Audio CD |
The tracks are: 1. - 4. Klaviersonate Nr. 13 Es-dur op. 27 No. 1, 5. - 7. Klaviersonate Nr. 14 cis-moll op. 27 No. 2, 8. - 11. K;aviersonate Nr. 15 D-dur op. 28 "Pastorale".
![]() | author: Beethoven asin: B000LRYPSU binding: Digital list price: $2.75 USD amazon price: $2.75 USD |
Downloadable sheet music file
![]() | asin: B0000041K9 binding: Audio CD list price: $23.98 USD amazon price: $27.97 USD |
Each of these performances has its own profile. The orchestra plays incisively in the First Concerto, but Ashkenazy's plush lyricism doesn't make a good match either with the orchestra or with the music, and he makes one weird ritard in the first movement. The Second Concerto is uneventful, rather bland and pleasant. The Third Concerto seems to be the best performance of the lot, with dramatic playing by soloist and orchestra, but it's sabotaged by blurry recorded sound, the only serious problem with sound quality in the entire set. The Fourth Concerto is enlivened, at least intellectually, by Solti's approach, constantly revealing interesting unfamiliar details in the orchestral score. Ashkenazy's detachment makes this a frosty but fascinating experience. The "Emperor" is a good routine performance, nothing special. The Bagatelles aren't much of a bonus, since they're rather dully played. (Why not the "Choral" Fantasy?) There's nothing actively bad about this set, and it's reasonably priced. But Beethoven deserves better, and gets it from many performers, including the fascinating Uchida-Sanderling collaborations. --Leslie Gerber