Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Piano Sonata No. 26 - Les Adieux, Opp. 15, 81a

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Eugene Ormandy (Conductor), Philadelphia Orchestra (Orchestra), Rudolf Serkin (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Rudolf Serkin
• Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra
• Conductor: Eugene Ormandy
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025Q3
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #507,977 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Sounding Beethoven Piano & Recording Production, June 26, 2000

By 

William D. Sell (United States of America) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beethoven: Piano Concerto No. 1 / Piano Sonata No. 26 - Les Adieux, Opp. 15, 81a (Audio CD)

Besides my dear wife's wonderful playing, this is the best sounding Beethoven piano I have ever heard! The first few times I listened to the concerto piece I thought that there were at least three - four hands playing. The tone of the right hand side of the instrument is like crystal, and the looming murmur on the left is like lead. Each black and white that gets touched will clearly explain this to you as you listen. The orchestra is tops as well, with the airy piping of the fife (flute, that is) and the sometimes actual audible sound of strings being strummed from north to south with the tips of fingers (thumb or other I cannot tell) is something to look forward to at each listen. This is powerful, lively, and real playing in hitherto unmatched sound production (even the tape sounds good played real loud in your average ten-year-old car on stock-stereo speakers).

The sonata is rightly titled "The Good-bye," ("Les Adieux") and not "The 'Tragic' Good-bye" It is that morose, but playful music with which most of us are acquainted by way of good-byes (this one is as sad as usual). The piece is recorded live, but because of the mature and articulated playing of Mr. Rudolph, the clear striking sound of the keys corresponds to that of the studio recorded Concerto No 1. If you listen closely, you can hear Serkin breathing.

Altogether superb.