BaL 04.01.25 - Beethoven: Piano concerto 1

[smittims]

Does anyone know/praise the Weissenberg/Karajan recording? I was listening to them in the C minor concerto (no.3) this morning and felt it was very neatly played and well recorded but cool and detached, like a play-through. They made quite a few records together and it was, I think , Herbert's only complete set of the concertos, so it's curious to hear so little passion or depth.

[EnemyoftheStoat]

Iirc, BaL started in the 1950’s when there comparatively few recordings of even the most popular works and LPs were very expensive. So I suppose it was seen as a good way of helping the new listeners to music build a good solid collection without making expensive mistakes. (Pretty much the reason I sill read Gramophone).

However, with so many recordings available for a comparatively small subscription fee, it does seem to be becoming redundant. It’ll be a shame when it’ll no doubt be eventually axed as a sign of ‘progress’.

Even for us folks with little interest in streaming or downloads, I hold similar opinions about the redundancy of BAL, at least in a form where one single recording is judged to be "the best". If naming a single "best" is already of dubious value in a field of say 30 or 40 contenders, then it seems ridiculous where there are upwards of 400. And a misbuy nowadays, already far less likely thanks to the accessibility of various reviews, isn't going to cost the same proportion of income as an LP would have even in the 1970s, let alone the 1950s.

[Barbirollians]

Don’t give Sam Jackson ideas !

I don’t agree at all - people will always want to know what are rated to be best performances whether buying,downloading or streaming .

[Cockney Sparrow]

Don’t give Sam Jackson ideas ! ..................

Absolutely!

Rather, its an ideal opportunity to present the case for something more analytical, with comparisons and choices within the various categories that are evident (don't mention "interpretations on record" - if we can hope for a steer away from the present sorry state, it would have to be a bold, new initiative thought up by the new controller....)

[MickyD]

There's been quite a few fortepiano recordings...Levin, Lubin, Van Immerseel, Tan etc. The very first I heard was Mary Verney playing a rather clunky sounding old Broadwood with the Hanover Band.

[Pulcinella]

Bumping in anticipation of today's edition.

[Barbirollians]

I am not sure that J McG will choose a recent piano version - after all as noted above she chose Gilels/Ludwig for the Fourth.

[mikealdren]

I hope and expect that she'll simply choose the best performance regardless of age as she did last time.

[Retune]

Surely the only question is which Argerich version?

[Hitch]

I'm fond of the Melvyn Tan/Norrington/London Classical Players recording, which was coupled with the second concerto on an Erato cassette tape.

[vinteuil]

I'm fond of the Melvyn Tan/Norrington/London Classical Players recording...

... it's lovely.

Available on CD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Piano-Concertos-Norrington-London-Classical-Players/dp/B000090WCD

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Piano-Concertos-Ludwig-van-Beethoven/dp/B00000DNKG

.

[Barbirollians]

No mention of Argerich even when discussing Uchida and the few women who have recorded it - absolutely beggars belief.

[Barbirollians]

Gilels wins again but this time in 1968 with Szell - seeing off Brendel and Zimerman both with Rattle and Barenboim/Klemperer.

I struggle,however, to consider this a proper survey without any discussion of Argerich and Perahia. Brautigam was illustrated more than once .

i have the Gilels but have not listened to it often . On a CD I bought many moons ago in Hong Kong it was coupled with the sensational Third from that set .

[Pulcinella]

Recommended version:

https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8265658--beethoven-the-five-piano-concertos

Available as a download in other compilations.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I am not sure that J McG will choose a recent piano version - after all as noted above she chose Gilels/Ludwig for the Fourth.

Very prescient . It was clear from her earliest comments that EG was favoured.
On the clip evidence I preferred Schiff and Lupu.
Argerich a surprising absence as this is a work she plays very well. In some of her other performances it’s all a bit too hard driven for me.