13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent, but...., November 1, 2005
This review is from: Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos / Choral Fantasy - Melvyn Tan / Roger Norrington / London Classical Players (Audio CD)
I agree with the other reviewer concerning the merits of pianist Melvyn Tan performing the complete Beethoven piano concerti accompanied by Sir Roger Norrington and the London Classical Players. My only reservation is that his fortepiano is overwhelmed by the orchestral accompaniment most of the time. It just seems jarring to hear tinkling notes emitting from Tan's fortepiano only to be answered with gale-force volume blasting from the orchestra in return. Perhaps if smaller orchestral forces had been used along with some restraint, or better miking of the soloist, I would have awarded this set 5 stars. Still, since fortepiano renditions of these masterworks are rare, this is a valuable and worthy edition to any music library.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Well worth owning, May 9, 2007
This review is from: Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos / Choral Fantasy - Melvyn Tan / Roger Norrington / London Classical Players (Audio CD)
Melvyn Tan is a superb player, and Norrington (I think) conducts Beethoven appropriately, which means with great feeling and sensitivity, but without syrupy melodrama. This fine recording shows both at their best. But for the life of me, I don't know why they didn't move the mike a little closer to the fortepiano. It's just a little too low in the mix. Fortepianos - good ones - aren't mousy little music boxes. They aren't Bosendorfers, but they can sure hold up their end of the deal. Here, the instrument is just a little too soft. Other than that, it's a spendid recording. And the addition of a "recital" of several of Beethoven's solo piano works on (one of his many) original pianos is a real plus.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Recording at a Great Price, April 12, 2005
This review is from: Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos / Choral Fantasy - Melvyn Tan / Roger Norrington / London Classical Players (Audio CD)
Melvyn Tan teams with Sir Roger Norrington in an historic recording of the Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle, with a few excellent bonuses thrown in. Few players can equal Tan on the pianoforte, though he no longer plays it exclusively in concert these days. In 1995 he switched over to the modern piano, which he now plays the majority of the time in recital.
Tan and Norrington were/are a natural pairing. Norrington was at the forefront of bringing period instruments and arrangements back into the concert halls of Europe and America.
The tonality of the concertos definitely does sound different than when played on modern instruments with their greater sonority. The effect here is more muted and sedate. This is especially true in Concerto #2, which always struck me as having a more classical feel to it than #1, even.
The interplay and timing between the London Classical Players and Tan is flawless throughout the set. While there may not be many "fireworks" here, there are no discernable missteps either (at least to this untrained ear).
I would suggest that all Beethoven lovers and collectors snatch this CD set up, quickly, while the price is still right. It really represents an abundance of listening pleasure at a price I would expect to pay for one concerto CD.
Highly Recommended.
BEK
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