Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Piano Concertos 1, 2, 3, 4, & 5 'Emperor'

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I absolutely love Arrau's performance of Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5! There has not been another pianist who can play this piece just as well as Arrau has.

Claudio Arrau is my favorite pianist in the Beethoven and Chopin repertories; this recording is particularly fine aesthetically. This "package" is a treat for devotees of Beethoven or Arrau.

This 3-CD set includes all 5 piano concerti of Ludwig Van Beethoven, a singularly distinguished composer during the transition from the Classical to the Romantic eras. Deservedly, he is acknowledged as one of the most influential composers of all time in Western classical music.

The piano concerti are an important component of his orchestral portfolio. The tracks in this set include:
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C major, op. 15:
I. Allegro con brio
II. Largo
III. Rondo. Allegro scherzando
Piano Concerto N°2 in B Flat major, Op 19:
I. Allegro con brio
II. Adagio
III. Rondo. Molto allegro
Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37
I. Allegro con brio
II. Largo
III. Rondo. Allegro
Piano Concerto No. 4 in G major, op. 58
I. Allegro moderato (G major)
II. Andante con moto (E minor)
III. Rondo (Vivace) (G major)
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 73 "The Emperor Concerto"
I. Allegro (E flat major)
II. Adagio un poco mosso (B major)
III. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo (E flat major)

Claudio Arrau León (1903-91) a Chilean pianist, universally deemed as one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century, is particularly recognized for his interpretations of Beethoven's music. His style is often characterized by the rich, weighty tone that graces these interpretations in a distinctive & well-rounded voice In these performances, Mr. Arrau is accompanied by the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden under the direction of Sir Colin Davis.