BaL 26.03.22 - Beethoven: Piano Concerto no 4 in G major

[MickyD]

Yes, you're right - Mr Walsh has now kindly uploaded the full programme onto Youtube. Despite the age of the programme, there was also a period recommendation - Badura-Skoda with the Collegium Aureum.

They may be getting on a bit, but like Bryn, I still have a high regard for those DHM Collegium Aureum recordings. Their J.C. Bach recordings are particular favourites of mine.

[Barbirollians]

They may be getting on a bit, but like Bryn, I still have a high regard for those DHM Collegium Aureum recordings. Their J.C. Bach recordings are particular favourites of mine.

To my shame I have to admit buying that big Badura Skoda DG set when it was so cheap but have not listened to it yet - are they in there ?

[cloughie]

To my shame I have to admit buying that big Badura Skoda DG set when it was so cheap but have not listened to it yet - are they in there ?

No the recording in that box is the 1951 with Scherchen!

It is on a single CD coupled with the Triple Concerto!

[Barbirollians]

So not very HIPP !

[cloughie]

So not very HIPP !

I guess there are those threadabouts who consider Scherchen quite HIPP for his time!

[RichardB]

They may be getting on a bit, but like Bryn, I still have a high regard for those DHM Collegium Aureum recordings.

Yes indeed. Their 4th Piano Concerto (+ op,77 Fantasia), 3rd Symphony and A minor Quartet were my way into Beethoven (having in my tender years more or less avoided the 1750-1900 period altogether, apart from Bruckner).

[Bryn]

Yes indeed. Their 4th Piano Concerto (+ op,77 Fantasia), 3rd Symphony and A minor Quartet were my way into Beethoven (having in my tender years more or less avoided the 1750-1900 period altogether, apart from Bruckner).

All, in my case, purchased as 'remainders' from Orchestography, late of Cecil Court, between Charing Cross Road and St Martin's Lane.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

So not very HIPP !

Neither was Beethoven.

[gurnemanz]

I've been listening to several older recordings. Favourite so far: magical and irresistible playing from Walter Gieseking in 1939 with the Sächsische Staatskapelle, Dresden under Karl Böhm.

[Barbirollians]

Still Gilels/Ludwig for me after all these years, there's something about the way they seem to get inside the piece in a way that no-one else approaches (including Gilels/Szell)

Joanna was with you !

An interesting shortlist but she clearly chose recordings she really liked rather than any Aunt Sally recordings.

Gilels/Ludwig the clear winner - McGregor sounded rather appalled she had chosen a 65 year old recording.

Kristian B fortepiano choice - Zimerman /Rattle, Kovacevich/Davis , Pires/Harding runners up.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Interesting choice . But is there anyone around currently to compare with Gilels ? That coda at the end where he gradates the G major and D major arpeggios that a lot of pianists just knock off as they relax a bit ….
Mind you I slightly preferred the Curzon because fundamentally I prefer the sound he makes when the finger hits the keys. One of the all time great cantabile pianists….

[Bryn]

Joanna was with you !

An interesting shortlist but she clearly chose recordings she really liked rather than any Aunt Sally recordings.

Gilels/Ludwig the clear winner - McGregor sounded rather appalled she had chosen a 65 year old recording.

Kristian B fortepiano choice - Zimerman /Rattle, Kovacevich/Davis , Pires/Harding runners up.

I missed the early section of the review. Was any mention made of the Barry Cooper edition of Beethoven's revisions to the first and third movements, as recorded, for instance, by Brautigam and Parrott?

[Ein Heldenleben]

I missed the early section of the review. Was any mention made of the Barry Cooper edition of Beethoven's revisions to the first and third movements, as recorded, for instance, by Brautigam and Parrott?

Not that I recall - though I missed a minute or so early on. Brautigam and Parrott weren’t played.There was one fP rep but not a name familiar to me - I thought the slow movt worked particularly well.

[Bryn]

Not that I recall - though I missed a minute or so early on. Brautigam and Parrott weren’t played.There was one fP rep but not a name familiar to me - I thought the slow movt worked particularly well.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a very fine fortepianist and all-round first-rate musician. I have his recording of the 2nd and 5th but am now importing this 4th from QOBUZ.

[Ein Heldenleben]

Christiaan Bezuidenhout, a very fine fortepianist and all-round first-rate musician. I have his recording of the 2nd and 5th but am now importing this 4th from QOBUZ.

Yes I liked the terse staccato tutti response from the orchestra and as J McG pointed out it’s con moto …