Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Bernard Haitink (Conductor), Colin Davis (Conductor), Eliahu Inbal (Conductor), Heinz Dressel (Conductor), Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen (Orchestra), London Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra), New Philharmonia Orchestra (Orchestra), Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (Orchestra), Claudio Arrau (Performer), Lidia Grychtolowna (Performer), Stephen Bishop Kovacevich (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Claudio Arrau, Lidia Grychtolowna, Stephen Bishop Kovacevich
• Orchestra: Folkwang Kammerorchester Essen, London Symphony Orchestra, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra
• Conductor: Bernard Haitink, Colin Davis, Eliahu Inbal, Heinz Dressel
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 11, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Philips
• ASIN: B0000041AE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #86,816 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Collection, February 13, 2000

By 

"kv581" (Durham, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

What luck on my part! I bought this CD because I wanted an inexpensive recording of the Emperor Concerto. When I came across this CD, I had no idea who Kovacevich is. I simply bought this double CD because it was inexpensive and it also contained the violin concerto and the triple concerto. It wasn't until I actually listened to the recordings when I finally realized that these are far from the sub-par cheap performance that I had come to expect from inexpensive CDs. In fact, after doing some reseach on the musicians, I realized Kovacevich's complete Beethoven piano concerto cycle is considered to be one of the finest. And, as you may know, this field (the Beethoven piano concertos) is one that does not lack competition. Many complete performances by other great pianists exist out there (Brendel, Fleisher, Barenboim, Serkin, and many others), and the Kovacevich recordings rank among the best of them. The other works included in the set are great as well. The Triple Concerto included here was performed by Arrau (another great pianist), Szeryng (violin), and Starker (cello), while the Violin Concerto was performed by Krebbers. Both performances are first-rate, especially the Triple Concerto. The Violin Concerto may be a touch too slow for some people's tastes, but it suits those of us who prefer a more romanic and solemn Beethoven over a more frivolous one. Nevertheless, Kovacevich's Emperor Concerto steals the spotlight here. To complete your Beethoven Piano Concerto set, also check out the Beethoven Complete Concertos 1, which includes the first four of Beethoven piano concertos and 2 violin romances (performed by Kovacevich and Grumiaux, respectively). Quality doesn't come any cheaper than this.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this one, June 8, 2000

By 

J. Buxton "cantabile" (Waltham, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

In my opinion this is THE Emperor concerto to buy. Kovacevich has another Emperor concerto available through EMI with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, but this one is every bit as vital, and the set is a bargain to boot. The playing is very exciting, detailed, and brilliant. I could go on, but it deserves every praise. The sound quality is astounding for 1969, and Davis and the LSO were in one of their vintage periods. The other works here are recommendable too, particularly the violin concerto. But don't miss this Emperor.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Very Good Compilation with An Exceptional Emperor Concerto, August 30, 2001

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Complete Concertos Vol. 2 (Audio CD)

I have heard most of the performances on this two CD compilation elsewhere, with the notable exceptions of Herman Krebbers' performance of the Violin Concerto (However, judging from his work as the soloist in Kondrashin's celebrated Philips recording of Rimsky-Korsakov's Scheherazade, I am sure that his performance of Beethoven's violin concerto is exceptional.) and Piano Concerto 0. I have heard better performances of Beethoven's Triple Concerto, most notably from the Beaux Arts Trio (most recent Philips recording with Kurt Masur conducting the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra) and the Trio Fontenay (with Elihu Inbal conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra); I don't think the chemistry is good amongst pianist Claudio Arrau and his fellow soloists, though theirs is a credible performance. Without a doubt, the finest performance on this two CD compilation is Kovacevich's spellbinding performance of Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto. His dramatic playing is steeped in lyricism and first-rate technique; it is among the fastest versions I have heard. Kovacevich's confident playing is superbly backed by Sir Colin Davis conducting the London Symphony Orchestra.