Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Rondo in B flat; Choral Fantasy

Ludwig van Beethoven (Composer), Nikolaus Harnoncourt (Conductor), Chamber Orchestra of Europe (Orchestra), Pierre-Laurent Aimard (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Pierre-Laurent Aimard
• Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe
• Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt
• Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
• Audio CD (October 12, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Classics
• ASIN: B0002W3EDG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,986 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #37 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Rondos

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Recording I've Heard of the Beethoven Triple Concerto, April 24, 2005

By 

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

This review is from: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Rondo in B flat; Choral Fantasy (Audio CD)

I have to go back a while to recall a truly memorable performance of the Beethoven Triple Concerto I've either heard as a recording or live performance. The finest recording I've heard until now was an absolutely rhapsodic, vibrant interpretation with the Beaux Arts Trio and Bernard Haitink conducting the London Philharmonic. However, this new Warner Classics recording is quite simply the most daring, exciting performance of the Beethoven Triple Concerto I have heard with graceful, lyrical playing from pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, coupled with fiery performances from cellist Clemens Hagen and violinist Thomas Zehetmair, which revel in the then novelty offered by Beethoven's composition when it was introduced in the early 1800s. Nikolaus Harnoncourt leads the Chamber Orchestra of Europe in yet another spirited, dramatic performance of a Beethoven concerto without overwhelming the remarkable performances of these three splendid soloists. Without question, it is an excellent coda to the Aimard's Beethoven piano concerto cycle released earlier on Teldec, now Warner Classics. To their credit, both Aimard and the orchestra play the Rondo with ample gusto. Together, they offer yet another amazing performance in the Choral Fantasy, demonstrating that it too is a revolutionary work composed by Beethoven, and not merely, a rough sketch for his 9th Symphony's fourth movement. This splendid recording, blessed with exceptional sound quality, will please fans of Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Nikolaus Harnoncourt and the Chamber Orchestra of Europe. I strongly concur with The New York Times's assessment of this recording as among the finest classical music recordings of 2004.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good, yes, but surprisingly tame from Harnoncourt, August 27, 2006

By 

Santa Fe Listener (Santa Fe, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Rondo in B flat; Choral Fantasy (Audio CD)

In his cycle of Beethoven symphonies Harnonourt's conducting was aggressive, often aburpt, unnerving, and challenging to absorb. For some reason he drops all that in his recording of the Triple Concerto and Choral Fantasy. There have been excellent virtouoso readings of the Triple recently with Barenboim and Argerich as pianist. They show more intensity than this quiet-voiced, almost classical version. There's no doubt that the soloists, particularly Aimard, are wonderufl players, but it takes a while for the first movement to catch fire. Every time Aimard is given room to expand, he's brought back down to earth by the more restained Hagen on cello. (To the reviewers below who unanimously proclaim 'best ever,' I can only point to the unsurpassed version under Karajan with Richter, Oistrakh, and Rostropovich, a towering recording.)

In the Choral Fantasy there is an impassioned performance from Bernstein and Rudolf Serkin from the Sixties (Sony), as well as a fine one from Barenboim as both conductor and soloist, in concert with the Berlin Phil. on EMI. By comparison, Aimard is unusually cautious--he prefers restraint over the free-wheeling and totally thrilling spontaneity of Serkin. Harnoncourt remains just as restrained, so despite the all-around excellence of the performers, I can't see this one being anywhere near a first choice.

In sum, both readings fall somewhere in the middle of the pack but are enjoyable and more than competent in all espects. Fine recorded sound, by the way.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredibly rich sonic banquet, November 25, 2005

By 

gotta_hava_dog (Colorado United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Beethoven: Triple Concerto; Rondo in B flat; Choral Fantasy (Audio CD)

This recording is fabulous. It's rich, deep and colorful. The piano itself sounds absolutely wonderful. Its clarity and voice are exceptional. Unlike some recordings that sound as if the performers are very pleased with themselves, the performers in this recording sound as though they are playing for the sheer joy of playing and for the sake of the music and not for themselves. It's very refreshing. I first heard this broadcast on our Public Radio Classical station. It was so distinct and unique that I came right to Amazon and bought it. It resonates in your chest, it's so rich. Really outstanding!