Customer Reviews

Beethoven: Die 5 Klavierkonzerte

5 star:		(12)
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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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I totally agree with Antonio Perci for his commentary about the fourth concerto. Having listened to Pollini and Abbado, I tried Arrau who used to be my favorite, then Zimerman and Kempf. As often it happens to me with Pollini, when I go back to my ancient favorites I realize how difficult it is to rival his art made of precision, balance, clarity, fidelity to the scores.

Really, you should listen to the fourth and the magic of the first movement. I have one regret. The second movement of the fifth, although quite impressive when compared with other interpretations, does not match the standards that Pollini himself established in 1979 with Bohm. But Pollini does make up for the fourth.

As a pianist, I have played one of the Beethoven Piano Concertos and have heard all of them performed many times. This recording is one of the best I have heard. I particularly recommend Pollini's interpretation of the Emperor Concerto (No. 5) -- he plays with majestic abandon, and the effect is inspiring.

This set is one of the best examples of Beethoven's music. With a great sound by th BPO, a good conduction from Abbado (the best complement of Pollini) with a glorious playing of Maurizio Pollini. Hear him in the three moods of the 4th concerto, or the spirit in "emperor" and the misterius touch in the 3th. With profundity and plenitude these artist joined the best of them and give us an excellent recording. One but: Why them don't record th choral fantasy?. Listen them. The best: 4th concerto. Listen it

This is how the Beethoven concertos should be played - with majesty and grandeur. After buying this Pollini recording, I find other recordings lacking in these aspects. If you are going to buy one recording of the concertos, this should be it. The live aspect, I think, is not really noticeable. Maybe one or two audience coughs but that is to be expected. These interpretations of Pollini are too good to turn down based on the fact that it's a live recording. This set includes the DEFINITIVE recording of the 4th Concerto. I challenge anyone to find a better performance. Pollini knows Beethoven, trust me. I've listened to over 20 different interpretations and in my opinion Pollini's performances here come the closest to the composer's intentions. The Berlin Philharmonic does an excellent job with the accompaninent as well. Not to be missed!

This recording is A MUST for all Beethoven concerti lovers. You have tha Italian musicality of two performers (Pollini/Abbado) with the perfect sound of a German (THE German) orchestra.

These 5 concerti were recorded live in Germany. At times you hear the pianist singing along with his phrasing. The recording is nearly perfect, thanks to the 4D technology used by Deutsche Grammophon during live performances.

The concerti are a wonderful example of what Beethoven could create: a "classical" man with a "romantic" heart.

Immediately acknowledging I'm not an advocate of Pollini in Beethoven (belonging to those who cannot find much greatness at all in his largely harsh and unlyrical Beethoven Sonatas), I still have to say that his second Beethoven Concertos cycle is highly disappointing. His Third, Fourth and Fifth Concertos with the Vienna Philharmonic under Böhm weren't bad at all (notwithstanding the slightly bass-drained recording), featuring some rather impressively lubricate passagework combined with some uncommonly pronounced Pollinian level of commitment, if still on the cool side.

Alas, these remakes with the Berlin Philharmonic under Abbado--in fact recorded live, which one wouldn't guess without the occasional audience noise--are about as vapid and uninspired as these Concertos can get. Beethoven's piano writing obviously poses no hurdles whatsoever to Pollini. Not sure whether or not that explains Pollini's unwillingness to engage in the music.

You would reasonably expect the Berlin Philharmonic under Abbado to provide world-class support. Unquestionably professional, however, they seem about as unwilling to get engaged in the music as the soloist. The first two Concertos, more firmly rooted in the late Classical tradition, suffer less than the last three pre-Romantic Concertos. The recorded sound is decent considering the live format, if still nothing to write home about.

Having just reviewed the brand new Kissin/Davis set (Beethoven: The Complete Piano Concertos), even if with quite a few serious flaws, I would clearly choose it ahead of Pollini due to the rather successful First, Second and Fourth Concertos in general and the sparkling Rondo movements in particular. However, for a cycle without any weak links, Fleisher/Szell remains the reference (Beethoven: The 5 Piano Concertos/Mozart: Concerto No.25).

Finally, the new incarnation of this set, adding a newly recorded and previously unreleased Triple Concerto with Abbado conducting the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra and with Alexander Lonquich at the keyboard, clearly offers better value at only 2/3 of the price: Beethoven: Piano Concertos Nos. 1-5; Triple Concerto.

In one word - breathtaking. Simply the best version of the Beethoven piano concertos ever recorded. Gorgeous orchestra sound and phenomenal pianism. Pollini is wonderful. Do not miss it!

This recording is the top recording I have ever heard. With the possible exception of Murry Perehia, I have never heard such poetic expression. I have heard four other sets of the concertos played and this is still my favorite.

I love Bethoven's "Emperor". I since bought three versions played by Pollini, Arthur Rubinstein, and Wihelm Kempff. All are very good, but Pollini's play simply sounds more "Bethovenish" to me -- majestic, balanced, powerful yet beautiful. If you are to have only one album of "Emperor", this is the one for you.

It's beauty, and strong. The strong thing is not his physical aspect, that is in the mental and moral space in his music. How can strong boy look beauty? It's his magical talents. At first time, I could not perceive his deeper expression, but as time has passed, I could get that. It's a real music and remarkable talent. If I didn't meet Beethoven's his concerto for Piano, I probably would not be aware of one of the Beethoven's masterpiece. I Really want to put this Pollii's great teasure in my mind forever. I actually felt the magic of this music and want to share it. Therefore I recommend this one as one of the Beethoben's Greatest Piano concertos. Thank you, And God bless you all who listen to this one...